The recent classic between São Paulo and Corinthians ended with a 3-2 loss for the tricolor side, but one moment stole the spotlight at Neo Química Arena. After Luciano scored late in the first half, midfielder Bobadilla—who provided the assist—ran to celebrate and made a hand motion near his groin area without touching it. The VAR called referee Anderson Daronco to review the incident, suspecting it could be an obscene gesture.
However, Daronco chose not to send off the player. He even recreated the movement in front of the crowd and explained his reasoning. The decision sparked heated debate across social media and sports talk shows, particularly because similar gestures have been punished differently in the past. A closer look at previous cases and insights from refereeing specialists help clarify the situation.
Football stars like Edmundo and Loco Abreu have performed similar motions over the years. In 1995, during a Vasco vs. Flamengo match, Edmundo aimed a groin-related gesture at rival fans. Loco Abreu, more closely resembling Bobadilla’s celebration, repeated the move many times, calling it a “tradition” in South American football—even though Brazilian referees tend to view it more strictly.
More recently, Corinthians’ Allan was sent off for a similar gesture, but with actual contact to his intimate area. The fact that Bobadilla did not touch himself played a key role in the different outcome.
Refereeing experts remain divided. Renata Ruel, former referee and ESPN analyst, argued on air that Bobadilla’s celebration deserved a red card. “Daronco failed to apply the rules,” she said. “The rule says a player must be sent off if he uses offensive, insulting, or abusive language or actions. In my view, there’s no interpretation: the action is abusive, it’s an obscene gesture, regardless of whether the player touched himself. It should have been a red. The VAR was right to call him, and Daronco was wrong not to give it.”
Former referees Carlos Eugênio Simon and Alfredo Loebeling, however, disagreed. Loebeling explained: “Anderson Daronco interpreted that it was not an obscene gesture. If he had thought otherwise, whether the player touched his genitals or not would be irrelevant, since simply simulating the gesture could also be considered obscene. But the referee’s interpretation was different. Daronco said the cultural context of Argentine and Uruguayan players influenced his analysis.” Simon added: “The VAR shouldn’t have suggested a review; this was not a red-card situation.”
The rule itself remains ambiguous, leading to ongoing disagreement among officials. While obscene gestures are grounds for expulsion, there is no clear definition of which actions fall under that category.
