Corinthians players confronted one another loudly in the dressing room during Sunday's 4-1 defeat to Palmeiras in the Campeonato Brasileiro, according to UOL. The outlet reports that the argument began at halftime, with Corinthians trailing 2-0, and grew loud enough that security staff entered the room to check on the situation.
The match was played on Sunday, October 11. UOL reports that after the first-half whistle, Corinthians players left the pitch with their heads down, and once inside the dressing room the recriminations started in raised voices, with shouting and insults exchanged between teammates. The noise drew the attention of staff working at the stadium and in the event's organization.
Why it matters
The episode adds to a difficult stretch for Corinthians, whose league position is now under threat. ESPN Brasil reported that the result leaves the club at risk of relegation while Palmeiras stays close to leader Flamengo. The halftime confrontation also points to friction inside the squad at a moment when, according to UOL, players have grown frustrated with the lack of support from the board, particularly from club president Osmar Stábile.
Security enters, then leaves
According to UOL, a group of security staff went into the Corinthians dressing room after hearing the commotion, seeking to establish whether a physical altercation had broken out. The shouting and insults continued at high volume even after they arrived.
Sources connected to Corinthians, however, told UOL that the incident did not go beyond what is considered normal in football. By that account, the security staff left shortly after confirming there was no serious trouble.
The inquest among the players centered on the team's performance and included calls for a change of attitude in the second half. It did not produce the response the players wanted. UOL reports that Corinthians conceded twice more early in the second period.
Full-back Matheus Bidu scored an own goal in the first minute of the second half, extending Palmeiras's lead. Giay added a fourth a few minutes later. Defender Gustavo Henrique pulled one back for Corinthians in stoppage time. Barboza and Giay had scored Palmeiras's goals in the first half.
Apathy after the final whistle
UOL describes the mood in the Corinthians dressing room after the match as one of apathy, set against sadness and dissatisfaction among the players. Complaints about the absence of backing from the board, and from Stábile in particular, came up again among the squad, the outlet reports — a theme UOL had first reported the previous Tuesday, October 5.
Defender Gabriel Paulista spoke to reporters in the mixed zone and delivered an unusually blunt assessment of the club's condition, calling for support from the board. He also criticized delays in salary payments and said players had been left to help one another financially.
"If anyone from the board wants to talk to me and say I said something out of line, I'll come back and say it again," Gabriel Paulista said, according to UOL. "We need protection. You need to pay the salary, keep the staff's salaries up to date. Damn, what a shame, man. To come here and say one athlete has to help another. That's a shame for a club like Corinthians."
Gabriel Paulista has been among the players most vocal about Corinthians's situation in recent months, according to UOL. The outlet reports that he is regarded behind the scenes as one of the strongest personalities in the squad, and that he was among those most upset by the dismissal of coach Fernando Diniz, along with Rodrigo Garro and Memphis Depay.
The day after Diniz's departure, Gabriel Paulista posted a message on social media stating that the coach and his staff were the "least to blame" for the club's poor run, UOL reports.
What to watch
The result leaves Corinthians facing a relegation fight while Palmeiras continues to chase Flamengo at the top, per ESPN Brasil. Whether the board responds to the players' complaints — and how the squad reacts on the pitch — is the next thing to watch.
