Memphis Depay has quickly become one of the most talked-about stars in Brazil since joining the league—right alongside Neymar’s return to Santos. But this time, the Dutchman made headlines not for his goals or assists, but for triggering a rule change in Brazilian soccer after a bold moment during a match.
Depay and Neymar, now teammates in Brazil and longtime friends, faced off when Corinthians defeated Santos in the semifinals of the Campeonato Paulista. That victory sent Depay’s Corinthians to the final against Palmeiras, where they claimed a 1-0 win in the first leg ahead of the decisive match at Neo Quimica Arena on March 27.
With the clock winding down and Corinthians looking to protect their lead, Depay found himself near the corner flag in the 89th minute. In an act seen by many as showboating or provocation, he stood on the ball—prompting an angry reaction from Palmeiras players and sparking a brief brawl.
Corinthians went on to lift the title, but the spotlight quickly shifted to Depay’s viral moment, which flooded social media and caught the attention of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).
CBF responds with new rule
Less than two weeks later, the CBF issued a memo to clubs and federations confirming that players who stand on or step on the ball during matches in the Campeonato Brasileiro will now receive a yellow card. The governing body explained the reasoning behind the new regulation:
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“There are different circumstances in which a player must be cautioned with a yellow card for unsporting behavior, including showing a lack of respect for the game,” reads a section of the memo.
The announcement came a day before Depay’s next appearance, a 3-0 win over Vasco da Gama on Saturday. In that match, the Dutch forward was on the receiving end of a rough tackle to his right ankle, which he later highlighted on social media. In the post match interview, Depay addressed the new rule, voicing his frustration with the federation’s priorities:
“I don’t know what VAR did today. In the first half, they could have checked the play on my ankle—it was a foul worthy of a red card. But instead, they prefer to make rules like the one about not standing on the ball. What are we talking about? Football, right? I think if it goes on like this, those in charge of football in Brazil will end up doing the wrong thing,” complained Memphis.
“I want to be clear about this: Brazil is the country of football, and football isn’t just played with your feet, but also with your mind. They need to do a better job,” he added.
