Refereeing in Brazil is basically an extreme sport. If you’ve ever watched a high-stakes match at the Allianz Parque or the Maracanã, you know the vibe. The pressure is suffocating. One man who lives in the eye of that hurricane is Flávio Rodrigues de Souza.
Honestly, if you follow the Brasileirão, you’ve probably screamed at your TV because of him at least once. He’s 45 now, born in 1980 in São Paulo (though some records link him to Ubatuba), and he’s been a FIFA-badged official since 2020. That’s a big deal. It means despite the social media meltdowns and the club presidents calling for his head, the higher-ups still think he’s one of the best the country has to offer.
But why is he so polarizing? Let’s get into the weeds of it.
The Flávio Rodrigues de Souza Paradox: FIFA Badge vs. Fan Fury
It’s weird. On one hand, you have a guy who gets called up for the Copa Libertadores and World Cup qualifiers. On the other, you have a referee who has been "set aside" for retraining by the CBF (the Brazilian Football Confederation) more than once. In early 2024, for instance, he was sent to the "refereeing fridge" after a particularly messy game between Palmeiras and Fortaleza.
He awarded two penalties to Palmeiras that day. People lost their minds.
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Then came 2025. You’d think a veteran would have a quieter year, right? Nope. In the Paulistão semifinals, he was right back in the spotlight during a Palmeiras vs. São Paulo clash. He called a foul on Arboleda against Vitor Roque. To the naked eye, it looked like Arboleda pulled his foot back. Flávio didn't care. He stuck to his guns, the VAR didn't overrule him, and São Paulo's president, Julio Casares, basically called the whole thing a "disgrace."
That's the Flávio Rodrigues de Souza experience. He’s decisive. Sometimes, maybe too decisive for his own good.
Statistics That Don't Lie (Sorta)
If you look at the raw numbers from the 2025 season, the guy is a cardio machine. He officiated over 40 matches across the Série A, Série B, and international competitions like the Sudamericana.
- Yellow Card Average: He usually hovers around 5.1 cards per game.
- The "Cera" Incident: One of his most talked-about moments recently was sending off Vasco’s goalkeeper, Léo Jardim.
- The Reason? Alleged time-wasting (or "cera" as they call it in Brazil).
Léo Jardim was down, claiming he was hurt. Flávio wasn't buying it. He flashed the second yellow, and Vasco ended up drawing a game they were winning. The fans were livid. The striker Vegetti called it a "robbery" in the post-game heat. But if you look at the rulebook, Flávio was just being a stickler. He hates when the game stops. He wants the ball moving.
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What Actually Makes Him a Top-Tier Official?
You don't stay on the FIFA list by accident. Despite the noise, Flávio Rodrigues de Souza is known for having some of the best physical fitness results in the league. He’s always on top of the play. He’s rarely caught out of position, which is why he’s often in the perfect (or most controversial) spot to make a call.
He also spends his time teaching. In late 2025, he was in São Sebastião running a 4-hour intensive course for new referees. It’s kinda interesting—the guy who gets yelled at by 50,000 people on Sunday is the one teaching the next generation how to handle the stress on Monday. He focuses on the "theory and practice," trying to bridge the gap between the complex Laws of the Game and the chaotic reality of a pitch where players are trying to trick you every 30 seconds.
The VAR Dilemma
A lot of the hate directed at Flávio Rodrigues de Souza actually stems from how he uses (or doesn't use) the Video Assistant Referee. In the modern game, fans expect the screen to fix everything.
But Flávio belongs to that school of thought where the "on-field decision" is king. If he sees it, he calls it. He doesn't like waiting for three minutes while some guy in a booth in Rio draws lines on a screen. This leads to friction. When he ignores the VAR's suggestion to review a play, the conspiracy theories start flying. "Is he arrogant? Is he biased?"
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The truth is usually more boring: he’s just confident in what he saw with his own eyes.
Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond
As of early 2026, Flávio is still a fixture in the Paulista championship and the national leagues. He recently handled a Santos vs. Novorizontino match where, predictably, he handed out a handful of yellows but kept the game under control.
Is he perfect? No. No referee is. But in a league where everyone thinks the system is rigged against their team, Flávio Rodrigues de Souza is a convenient lightning rod. He represents the old-school authority that clashes with the new-school technology of the VAR era.
Actionable Insights for Football Fans
If you're watching a game where Flávio is the lead official, here’s what you should expect:
- Don't expect much "cera": If your goalie starts faking a cramp in the 85th minute, Flávio is going to be all over him. He has zero patience for time-wasting.
- Watch the PK area: He is not afraid to whistle for a penalty in the final minutes of a derby. He doesn't "swallow the whistle" just because the game is big.
- Check the card counts: If you’re into sports betting or just tracking stats, know that he’s consistent. He will hit that 5-card average almost every single time.
At the end of the day, Flávio Rodrigues de Souza is a survivor. He has outlasted dozens of other referees who crumbled under the pressure of the Brazilian media. Whether you think he’s a "card-happy control freak" or a "firm, fit professional," he’s going to be the one blowing the whistle for a while longer. The best thing you can do as a viewer is understand his tendencies—he’s going to prioritize the flow of the game and his own field vision over almost everything else. Keep an eye on his positioning during the next "clássico"; you'll see why the FIFA scouts keep him on the list.