Brazil's football confederation (CBF) has submitted a formal complaint to FIFA regarding the disallowance of a goal during their World Cup group stage match against Scotland. The goal, scored by Vinicius Junior in the 20th minute, was ruled out after a VAR review determined he had fouled Scottish defender Jack Hendry in the build-up. Brazil went on to win 3-0 at Miami Stadium on Wednesday, but the CBF argues that the intervention contradicted the tournament's established VAR philosophy.
VAR inconsistency alleged
In a letter obtained by Brazilian outlet Estadao, the CBF called for more uniform application of VAR protocols. The letter states: "One aspect that particularly caught our attention during this tournament was the approach adopted by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Throughout the competition, there seems to have been a clear emphasis on respecting the on-field referee's interpretation and limiting intervention to situations involving clear and obvious errors. We believe this philosophy benefits football, preserves the referee's authority, and contributes positively to the fluidity of the game."
The CBF contrasted the decision with a similar incident involving Lionel Messi. During Argentina's second group match against Austria, Messi scored the opening goal after a sequence that Brazil claims was not reviewed. The letter argues: "Brazil's disallowed goal against Scotland in the 21st minute does not seem to align with the philosophy adopted throughout the competition. It is worth noting that the decision seemed unexpected not only for the Brazilian team, but also for the Scottish players, whose immediate reactions suggested that they did not expect a review or the subsequent annulment of the goal."
Referee appointment questioned
The CBF also raised concerns about the appointment of Mexican referee Cesar Arturo Ramos, citing a "negative history" from the 2018 World Cup. In that tournament, Ramos officiated Brazil's group stage match against Switzerland, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Brazil subsequently filed a complaint with FIFA's Arbitration Committee, questioning why Ramos did not use VAR to award a penalty for an alleged foul on Gabriel Jesus or review a potential foul on defender Joao Miranda during a corner kick.
The current complaint seeks to ensure consistency and transparency in VAR interventions. The letter states: "Our main interest is not to revisit individual decisions, but to ensure that the criteria governing VAR intervention are applied consistently, transparently and equally to all teams throughout the tournament."
Match outcome and reaction
Despite the controversy, Vinicius Junior scored again before half-time, and Matheus Cunha added a third in the 60th minute to secure Brazil's victory. Scotland's hopes of reaching the last 32 were effectively ended. Brazil now face Japan in the round of 32 on Monday.
Speaking after the match, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti said: "Now we are playing as a team, that is the goal. We are not perfect, we have things to improve. We can be a little quicker when we have control. I'm happy because the team has improved a lot, now we are solid. In the knockout stage, solidity is very important. We have a solid team. Compared to the first game, we are making fewer mistakes, we have more rhythm, and we are more effective up front."
