July 04, (THEWILL) – The South American football governing body, CONMEBOL, has admitted that a significant refereeing mistake occurred during Tuesday’s Copa America group-stage match between Brazil and Colombia. The incident in question involved a potential penalty for Brazil when defender, Daniel Munoz, tripped Vinicius Junior inside the box.
The contentious play unfolded in the 42nd minute at Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium, with Brazil leading 1-0. As Vinicius ran into the penalty area from the left, Munoz brought him down. Despite Brazilian players’ appeals, Venezuelan referee, Jesus Valenzuela, did not award a penalty. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR), led by Argentina’s Mauro Vigliano, upheld the on-field decision, erroneously believing Munoz had touched the ball.
In a video statement released on Wednesday, CONMEBOL clarified: “In a challenge for the ball inside the penalty area, a defender does not touch the ball. As a result, there is a contact that is not reasonable for the action. The referee fails to observe the action and allows play to continue. The VAR fails to identify that the defender did not touch the ball before recklessly contacting the Brazilian striker.”
The oversight proved costly for Dorival Jr’s team, who required a victory to claim the top spot in Group D. Brazil’s coach expressed his frustration after the match, stating: “After that, we conceded a goal. The referee was decisive. Only he and the VAR didn’t see a penalty, which for sure was there.”
As a result of this draw, Brazil now face Group C leaders Uruguay in the Copa América quarter-finals on Saturday. The match promises to be a crucial test for the Brazilian side as they aim to overcome this setback and progress further in the tournament.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
