Memphis Depay stood by the corner flag with minutes left on the clock. Corinthians were on the verge of clinching the Paulista title, and their Dutch forward decided to toy with his markers. He feigned a cross, planted both feet on the ball, and raised his arms in a gesture that seemed to say, “Come and get it.” That gesture triggered chaos. Palmeiras players rushed in, shoving him off the ball. A mass brawl followed, and four red cards were eventually shown.
Corinthians held on for a 1-0 aggregate victory, but the fallout from Depay’s move was only beginning. Two weeks later, the Brazil Football Federation (CBF) released a statement that referees must caution anyone who stands on the ball. An indirect free kick would also be awarded to the opposing team.
CBF institutes new “Depay Rule” to prevent “showboating”
Depay, 31, took to social media soon after the CBF’s rule emerged. “So I really went to Brazil to also experience jogo Bonita first hand,” he wrote, “but now the CBF announced that no player can stand on the ball or the player will receive a yellow card. Not that it’s such an important factor in football, but I don’t see the issue here.” He added that Brazilian football “deserves global visibility” and that its “joy and passion” shouldn’t be stifled.
It didn’t stop there. He questioned the federation’s direction, suggesting more energy should go into rules that genuinely improve the sport. “Let’s focus on what rules can improve the sport and focus on the business side of football, what benefits the clubs, the fans, and players instead of these silly announcements,” he said. His words were soon echoed by another superstar of the Brazilian game.
Neymar, recently returned to Santos, also weighed in. “Football is getting more and more boring,” he wrote on Instagram, hinting that the move could strip away some of the flair that has long defined the “beautiful game” in Brazil. Neymar has faced criticism for showboating himself, so his frustration seemed inevitable once a formal ban on standing on the ball was put in place.
Despite the controversy, Depay remains a fan favorite at Corinthians. He’s scored 3 goals and recorded 8 assists in 18 appearances this year. Some argue his flamboyance is precisely why supporters love him. Others say he crossed a line. For now, though, the CBF’s directive stands. That means yellow cards for a moment of flair once celebrated in countless highlight reels.
Time will tell if this ruling changes behavior across Brazilian football or simply pushes showmen like Depay and Neymar to find new ways to entertain.
