The first half of the Corinthians versus São Paulo derby was marred by a series of incidents after Luciano scored in the 40th minute. Following a mistake by Raniele and a defensive lapse from Hugo, Bobadilla set up a perfect ball for Luciano, who slotted it into the back of the net. However, the São Paulo number 10’s celebration ignited anger and escalated tensions in the classic clash.
Standing in front of the section where Corinthians’ organized fan groups are located, Luciano mimicked Luís Fabiano’s iconic celebration by using the corner flag of the home side. The Corinthians supporters reacted furiously, protesting and throwing an electronic cigarette (vape) and a lighter, which struck Calleri on the head.
Corinthians players also took offense at the gesture and confronted São Paulo’s athletes, leading to a mass brawl. The chaos resulted in yellow cards for Matheus Bidu, Gabriel Paulista, Calleri, and Sabino. Simultaneously, another controversy emerged during the celebration, as some players reported to the referee that São Paulo midfielder Bobadilla had made an obscene hand gesture.
A similar incident had already caused a stir for Corinthians earlier this season, involving players like Allan. The situation was reviewed by the video assistant referee, and it could have led to a red card, but Anderson Daronco chose not to punish the player. Due to all these episodes, the match was suspended for 12 minutes.
