Conmebol Admits VAR Error Against Brazil
Conmebol acknowledged that the VAR made a mistake by not reviewing the field referee’s decision regarding a "reckless" contact by Colombian Daniel Muñoz on Vinícius Júnior inside the box.
The play took place in the 42nd minute of the match between Brazil and Colombia (1-1), when the "Canarinha" was winning 1-0 against the Colombian team, at the end of Group D of the Copa América in the United States.
Muñoz stopped an incursion by Vinícius inside the box, but Venezuelan referee Jesús Valenzuela did not see an infraction and ordered the game to continue.
"He touches the ball," said Valenzuela in the audio released this Wednesday by Conmebol, the organizer of the Copa América.
The VAR, headed by Argentine Mauro Vigliano, then came into action.
"I need to see if he touches the ball. I want to see if the direction of the ball changes (...) If he nicks the ball, right? Yes," indicated the voice of the VAR.
"Jesús (Valenzuela), very tight, you can resume. He nicks the ball when he brings his foot down and then gives it a push, then the contact occurs," he added, addressing the field referee.
However, Conmebol analyzed the play and described it as follows: "In a ball dispute inside the box, a defender does not touch the ball and as a result of the dispute, reckless contact is made. The referee fails to see the action and lets the game continue."
The entity noted that the VAR, in a protocol manner, analyzed the play "from different angles, speeds, and considerations, and failed to identify that the defender did not touch the ball before recklessly contacting the Brazilian forward."
"Given this, the VAR incorrectly confirmed the original field decision," admitted the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol).
The resolution of the play was harshly criticized by Brazilian coach Dorival Júnior at the end of the match, which ended in a draw (1-1), as shortly after the unawarded penalty to Vini, Daniel Muñoz himself equalized the score.
"The referee was decisive. Inside the stadium, only he and the VAR did not see the penalty, which certainly existed. Brazil was greatly harmed," criticized the coach.
In his opinion, that penalty could have changed the course of the match, as the "Canarinha" would have had the opportunity to go up 2-0 and seal the game on the counterattack.
The coach also disagreed with the yellow card Vinícius received shortly after the match started for leaving his arm on James Rodríguez near the box, which will keep him out of the quarterfinal match against Uruguay due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
"Very strange everything that happened," he said.
