When Vasco da Gama forward Valdir Papel came toward the bench his own coach, Renato Portaluppi, shoved him down the sideline. Papel had been ejected in the 17th minute of the Copa Brasil final after receiving his second yellow card for his second brutal tackle from behind.

"It's unacceptable that you give a player a chance like that and he gets sent off for doing the same thing twice," said the furious Renato.

Flamengo won, 1-0, on a 28th minute goal by Juan to win the two-leg series, 3-0, on aggregate for Flamengo's first national title since 1992.