Racism rears its ugly head in debut for female assistant ref in Brazil's top flight
Fernanda Colombo Uliana's debut as an assistant referee in Brazil's top flight ended in controversy after she denied visitors Cruzeiro a last-gasp chance to equalise against rivals Atletico Mineiro with a debatable offside call.
Cruzeiro were 2-1 down with just minutes left when Allison was put through on goal, but Uliana raised her flag for offside, a decision that replays appeared to suggest was incorrect.
Uliana, making her Serie A debut, was cheered off the pitch by home fans but subjected to the ire of Cruzeiro players and director of football Alexandre Mattos.
She's pretty but you have to be good at your job. If she's pretty, she should go and pose for Playboy
Cruzeiro striker Marcelo Moreno continued to protest after the final whistle and got a red card while Mattos was scathing about Uliana's performance.
"That assistant is pretty, but she's not prepared for this," Mattos was quoted as saying by Brazil's Globo. "The fans shout and she gets it wrong. She's pretty but you have to be good at your job. If she's pretty, she should go and pose for Playboy."
Mattos' response was a likely reference to Brazil's most famous female official Ana Paula Oliveira, who retired in 2007 soon after posing for the men's magazine.
Marcelo Moreno had given Cruzeiro the lead in the first half before Marion and Andre put the home side ahead.