Coritiba centre-back Jacy Maranhão fell into an uncovered tunnel while celebrating what looked like his side’s second goal against Chapecoense, only to learn the strike had been ruled out by the video assistant referee. He returned to the pitch briefly but was later substituted after suffering an ankle problem from the fall; Coritiba went on to win 2-1.
- Coritiba defender Jacy Maranhão fell into an uncovered tunnel celebrating a goal that VAR later disallowed for offside.
- He received treatment, finished the first half but was substituted early in the second half with an ankle problem; Coritiba won 2-1.
- The stadium opening at Estádio Couto Pereira had been used before — a similar incident was reported in 2014 — and the event raises safety questions about pitch-level access points.
What happened
The incident occurred late in the first half at Estádio Major Antônio Couto Pereira. After a headed goal that Coritiba initially believed put them 2-0 up, the 29-year-old retrieved the ball, placed it under his shirt and vaulted over the advertising hoardings to celebrate with fans.
Unaware that a square opening leading to the away dressing room had been uncovered—staff normally keep the access closed during play—Maranhão fell down the hole and disappeared briefly from view. Team-mates, stadium staff and a nearby steward helped him back onto the pitch; medics treated him behind the goal before he resumed the half.
Video assistant referee intervention then produced an offside decision that overturned the goal. Reports across international outlets say Maranhão completed the first half but was substituted two minutes after the interval after aggravating his ankle; his club nevertheless recorded a 2-1 victory over Chapecoense.
Sources and what they report
The Guardian described the fall and said the player escaped without serious injury, noting the goal was disallowed by VAR. The New York Times’ recap added context about the ball-under-shirt celebration and quoted a line attributed to local reporting that Maranhão said the fall felt like “dreaming you’re falling from a building.” Multiple other outlets, including Yahoo Sports, NZ Herald and national tabloid coverage, published the footage and newsroom accounts of the episode and its aftermath.
Player and club context
Maranhão is a centre-back and, by the accounts cited, does not score often—reporting across the packet notes nine career goals. The celebratory gesture of placing the ball under his shirt was linked in reports to impending fatherhood; outlets attribute comments about that motivation to post-match interviews reported by Brazilian media.
Coritiba has previously experienced a similar accident at the same stadium. Outlets that reviewed archive material point to a 2014 incident in which striker Joel fell into the same opening while celebrating; commentators noted a steward who helped Joel was present again for Maranhão.
Why the scene spread online
Footage of the fall circulated quickly on social platforms and was republished by international sports sites. The combination of a dramatic, physical mishap plus the twist of the goal being disallowed made the moment highly shareable. Coverage compared Maranhão’s accident to other high-profile celebration injuries and tumbles, showing why it grabbed attention beyond Brazil.
What this means for the match and next steps
- Match outcome: Multiple reports confirm Coritiba beat Chapecoense 2-1 despite the disallowed goal.
- Player availability: Sources say Maranhão left the game shortly after half-time due to ankle soreness from the fall. None of the reporting in the evidence packet provides a confirmed medical diagnosis, prognosis or estimated recovery time.
- Stadium safety questions: The incident revived discussion about pitch-level access points. Reporting notes the opening is normally covered and that subterranean access to changing rooms is a common historic feature of Brazilian grounds intended to protect players and officials.
Timeline of the key moments (based on reports)
- Late in the first half: Maranhão scores a headed goal and retrieves the ball.
- Shortly afterwards: He jumps over perimeter hoardings and falls through an uncovered square opening to the tunnel beneath the pitch.
- Moments later: Teammates, stewards and medics assist; Maranhão receives treatment and returns to play for the rest of the first half.
- VAR overturns the goal for offside, ruling the strike out.
- Two minutes into the second half: Maranhão is substituted after aggravating an ankle problem sustained in the fall; Coritiba completes a 2-1 win.
Comparisons and wider football context
Reporting placed the episode alongside other celebration-related injuries, including historic cases where players hurt themselves jumping, backflipping or falling during celebrations. Coverage also explained the practical reason many older South American stadiums have subterranean passages: they provide secure, rapid exit routes for players and officials if crowd unrest emerges.
What the coverage does not confirm
- No outlet in the evidence packet supplies an official medical statement confirming the severity of Maranhão’s ankle issue or a return date.
- There is no official club statement in the packet detailing why the tunnel was uncovered at that moment or whether any immediate safety review will follow; stories rely on match footage and media reports.
Practical implications for fans and clubs
For fans, the footage is a reminder that pitchside infrastructure—advertising boards, trapdoors and access points—can present risks during spontaneous celebrations. For clubs and stadium operators, the episode highlights the importance of clear procedures for covering any surface openings during play and ensuring everyone involved knows those protocols, particularly in the minutes around half-time.
What comes next
Follow-up reporting should seek an official medical update from Coritiba on Maranhão’s condition and any club statement about the circumstances that left the tunnel uncovered. Local authorities or the stadium operator could also confirm whether they will review procedures; none of those steps had been confirmed in the evidence packet.
“He felt like when you dream you’re falling from a building,” — phrasing attributed in post-match local reports quoted by international outlets describing Maranhão’s own account of the fall.