Coritiba's Jacy Falls Down Open Tunnel Celebrating - Then VAR Rules The Goal Out
Coritiba captain Jacy Maranhão experienced a double blow during a match against Chapecoense: his headed goal was disallowed by VAR, moments after he celebrated by leaping over the advertising hoardings—only to disappear down an uncovered stairwell. Fortunately, he was unharmed, though his ankle swelled. This incident has happened before at the same ground, raising concerns about stadium safety. Ultimately, Coritiba secured a 2-1 victory—three points and a viral moment, but a lesson to strengthen safety protocols around pitchside hazards.
- Coritiba captain Jacy Maranhão fell into a stairwell while celebrating a disallowed goal
- Incident mirrors a similar fall by another player at the same ground in 2014
- Coritiba still secured a 2-1 victory over Chapecoense
Coritiba captain Jacy Maranhao produced one of the most spectacularly ill-fated goal celebrations in recent memory - disappearing down an uncovered stairwell moments before VAR ruled out the goal he was celebrating.
The 29-year-old centre-back headed in from a second-phase corner delivery late in the first half against Chapecoense at the Estadio Couto Pereira.
He thought he had doubled Coritiba's lead with the hosts already 1-0 up through Tiago Cóser.
Believing he had put his side 2-0 in front, Jacy retrieved the ball, tucked it under his shirt in a pregnancy-style tribute to his partner, and sprinted towards the supporters behind the goal.
Then he vaulted the advertising hoardings - and vanished.
The Hatch That Should Have Been Shut
Behind the advertising boards sits the concrete stairwell leading to the away dressing room. It is normally sealed by a cover during play, opened only at the end of each half so teams can leave the pitch.
But with the interval approaching, ground staff had already pulled it back.
Jacy dropped straight in, out of sight of the crowd and his own teammates, one of whom had tried and failed to grab him mid-celebration. A steward raced down the steps to reach him.
He climbed back out seconds later, still celebrating, before sinking to the turf behind the goal to receive treatment from Coritiba's medical staff.
The Cruellest Part Was Played By VAR
While he was being attended to, the semi-automated offside system flagged an infringement in the build-up. The referee chalked the goal off.
Jacy saw out the remainder of the half but his ankle swelled badly during the break. He started the second period and lasted barely two minutes before being replaced by Rodrigo Moledo.
"I'm okay," he said afterwards. "Defenders don't score many goals, so I got carried away - and the pit was open. My foot is a bit sore, but I'm fine." He likened the sensation to "falling from a building".
It Has Happened Here Before
This is the second time a Coritiba player has fallen into the same hole at the same ground. In September 2014, Cameroonian striker Diederrick Joel Tagueu cleared the same hoardings after scoring against São Paulo and dropped into the identical stairwell.
The steward who went to Jacy's aid on Saturday was the same man who helped Joel twelve years ago. "I tried to warn him but I couldn't," João Guimarães told Cazé TV. "Joel did exactly the same thing and fell in exactly the same way. And it was me standing there then, too."
Coritiba, at least, got the result. They held on for a 2-1 win over Chapecoense - three points earned without the goal that shot their captain to viral stardom.
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