Brazil Football Confederation reiterates ref errors in game with Swiss

CBF commented on FIFA’s official note on the game

Published on 20/06/2018 - 19:17 By Luiza Damé* - Brasília
Updated in 20/06/2018 - 19:06

After a response from the International Football Federation (FIFA) to the questions posed by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) on the use of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) in tied Brazil–Switzerland match, the confederation reiterated Wednesday (Jun. 20) that there were at least two refereeing mistakes detrimental to Brazil.

A foul on Brazilian defender Miranda when Switzerland scored its equalizer, and a penalty on Gabriel de Jesus, both ignored, would be evident had VAR been consulted, CBF argues.

As written on its website, CBF regards it “important to have initiated this debate” with FIFA, in an effort to avoid “errors in the future, as well as to collaborate with the enhancement of the use of this technology.”

In an official statement signed by Pierluigi Collina, head of FIFA’s referees’ committee, and FIFA Deputy Secretary-General Zvonimir Boban, FIFA replied to CBF’s complaint regarding the procedures adopted by VAR in Brazil’s Sunday opener.

In the answer, FIFA did not mention the moves pointed out by CBF, but said the video assistant aims to prevent “clear and obvious mistakes” and “serious incidents” not noticed by the referee and its assistants in the field, adding that the remaining cases fall under the sole responsibility of on-field referees.

FIFA’s reply reads: “As has been repeatedly declared, the question VARs must ask themselves when a referee makes a decision during a match is not ‘Is the referee’s decision correct?’, but rather ‘Is the referee’s decision clearly and obviously mistaken?’, since a referee’s judgment, in all other situations, is still the only relevant judgment when a decision is made.”

FIFA refused to provide a copy of VAR audio and video recordings linked to the contentious moments, arguing that, before the World Cup in Russia kicked off, it had been decided that “recorded conversations between match officials and video officials would not be available.” FIFA told CBF that no public evaluation of the work of referees was done in connection with the clash between Brazil and Switzerland, held as part of the first round of Group E.

The global federation also disallowed the officials who made comments on how the referees acted in the match. “If and when FIFA’s referees’ committee decides to make remarks on the decision of a referee, this will be done officially, by means of an official statement, or during a press conference,” FIFA noted.

*With Information from CBF

Translation: Fabrício Ferreira -  Edition: Davi Oliveira / Mariana Branco

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