The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has lodged a formal complaint with FIFA regarding the officiating during their World Cup 2026 group stage match against Scotland. The complaint specifically addresses a disallowed goal by Vinicius Junior and the appointment of Mexican referee Cesar Ramos.
During the match, which Brazil won 3-0, Vinicius Junior scored twice. However, a goal in the 22nd minute was disallowed by Cesar Ramos after a VAR review. The incident occurred when Vinicius Junior capitalised on a defensive error by Scotland, drove into the box, and scored with a low strike. Initially, the goal was allowed, but after reviewing the play, the referee determined that Vinicius Junior had touched the foot of Scottish defender Jack Hendry, leading to the annulment of the goal.
Following the decision, Vinicius Junior reportedly expressed his displeasure to the referee, calling the decision “a disgrace” and engaging in a heated verbal exchange. Despite this setback, Vinicius Junior went on to score another goal before half-time, and Matheus Cunha added a third goal, securing Brazil‘s 3-0 victory.
CBF’s Complaint Regarding VAR Consistency
The CBF’s letter to FIFA, as reported by Brazilian publication Estadao, protests the VAR call and requests a consistent application of VAR intervention criteria. The letter highlights that the decision to disallow Vinicius Junior‘s goal did not align with the philosophy of limiting intervention to clear and obvious errors, a principle that the CBF believes benefits football by preserving the referee’s authority and contributing to game fluidity.
To support their argument for consistent VAR application, the CBF cited a play that led to Lionel Messi‘s first goal against Austria in Argentina‘s second Group J match. The complaint suggests that the decision against Brazil seemed unexpected not only to the Brazilian team but also to the Scottish players, whose immediate reactions did not indicate an expectation of a review or annulment.
The CBF clarified that their primary interest is not to revisit individual decisions but to ensure that VAR intervention criteria are applied consistently, transparently, and equally to all teams throughout the tournament. This emphasis on fairness and consistency underscores their broader concern about the integrity of the officiating process.
Concerns Over Referee Appointment
In addition to the VAR decision, the CBF also raised concerns about the appointment of Cesar Ramos as the referee for the match. They believe that his past officiating record should have prompted FIFA to assign a different referee.
The CBF’s dissatisfaction with Cesar Ramos dates back to 2018, specifically to a group stage game against Switzerland. In that match, Brazil was held to a 1-1 draw, and the CBF subsequently sent a formal complaint to FIFA‘s Arbitration Committee regarding Ramos‘s performance. The complaint from 2018 questioned why Ramos did not use VAR to determine a foul on Joao Miranda during a corner kick and why a penalty was not awarded for an alleged foul on Gabriel Jesus.
Brazil‘s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, commented post-match that the team is playing as a unit and has shown significant improvement, particularly in solidity, which he deems crucial for the knockout stages. He noted that the team is making fewer mistakes, has more rhythm, and is more effective offensively compared to their initial game. Brazil is currently set to face Japan in the round of 32 on Monday.
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Source: goal.com
Priya Nair
Sports Reporter
