Sports · Copa do BrasilArena MRV smoke delay: Grêmio reaches final after 1–1 drawWritten November 8, 2026 at 12:37 PM UTCWatchTranscript0:07Smoke from supporters flares held up a cup semi-final at Arena MRV.0:10Attico, MG needed to overturn a two goal deficit against Gruer, Mayo, but the game0:15ended one.0:16All and Attico went out.0:18The unresolved detail is exactly how long the smoke kept the teams waiting.0:21At Tico supporters pre-match welcome left dense smoke inside the stadium in Belo0:26Horizonte.0:27The teams were preparing for the second leg of their Copa do Brazil semi-final on0:31November7 th, with a place in the final at stake.0:34The delay lasted a reported nine to ten minutes.0:36The exact duration hasn't been confirmed officially.0:39Both timings describe the same problem: smoke dense enough to hold up the start of0:43play.0:43Both goalkeepers and the video officials had to approve the start.0:47The refereeing team said the video assistant referee team, or VAR, needed pictures0:52clear enough to assess incidents.0:53So the decision involved visibility on the pitch and the quality of the video.0:57Red flares were burning before the players entered the field, with Attico's mascot,1:01Gallo Doido leading the celebrations.1:04The display continued through the Brazilian national anthem.1:06Supporters chanted Eu Accredito, meaning I believe, and celebrated Attico as a team1:12capable of a comeback.1:13Outside Arena MRV, supporters also welcomed the team bus with flares.1:17That reception is known as a Rua de Fogo or street of fire.1:20Gri Meo had given the home crowd a two goal deficit to worry about.1:24Atteco lost the first leg two, now at Arena do Guerre, Mio in Porto Alegre on1:29November first.1:30To reverse that result, et Alateco needed a clear winning margin at home.1:35A win by three goals would have taken Attiko directly into the final.1:38Any win by exactly two goals would have sent the tie to penalties.1:41Gra Mio's goals would count two, so Attico needed that three goal margin for direct1:46qualification.1:47The return leg was played on November seventh.1:49An earlier September announcement had listed November eighth, but the later official1:53preview scheduled it for six in the evening on the seventh.1:56The match, day records, also placed the game on that date.1:59Attiko finished the return leg level with Guerre Mio at one all.2:03The semifinal went ahead after the delayed kickoff.2:05But Attico never achieved the winning margin it needed to overturn the first leg2:10defeat.2:10Gra, Mio won three, one on aggregate, the combined score across the two legs.2:15Attiko MG was eliminated, and Gir Mio advanced to the Copa do Brazil final.Read the articleStory timelineHeyDex
