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Brazil have demanded that the referee who officiated their match against Scotland be removed from future fixtures, after the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) lodged a formal protest with FIFA concerning a contentious decision to disallow a goal scored by Vinicius Jr. Despite Brazil’s emphatic 3-0 win, the governing body remains furious over what it describes as a major refereeing error.

CBF angered by Vinicius Jr VAR verdict

The incident occurred in the 21st minute of Brazil’s final Group C encounter with Scotland. With the Selecao already in front thanks to an earlier strike from Vinicius Jr, the Real Madrid forward appeared to double his tally after stealing possession from Jack Hendry and calmly slotting past goalkeeper Angus Gunn. Referee Cesar Ramos initially signalled for a goal, but after a VAR review, the effort was ruled out for an alleged foul in the build-up.

The decision provoked an immediate outburst from Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who argued that the contact was minimal and did not meet the “clear and obvious” threshold necessary to overturn an on-field call. CBF president Samir Xaud has since written directly to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, criticising what he described as inconsistent officiating standards across the tournament.

Request for Ramos to be removed from future fixtures

The CBF’s complaint specifically calls for Mexican referee Cesar Ramos to be excluded from officiating any of Brazil’s future matches in North America. According to documents obtained by the Brazilian newspaper Estadao, the federation outlined a “negative history” with Ramos, referencing a 2018 World Cup group stage match against Switzerland in which Brazil believed they were denied a clear penalty and a foul that led to the Swiss equaliser. The letter contends that Ramos should never have been assigned to their games due to this prior controversy.

CBF raises Messi comparison to highlight double standards

In a rather unexpected argument, the Brazilian authorities invoked their long-time rival Lionel Messi to underscore perceived inconsistencies in refereeing decisions. The CBF’s correspondence cited a goal scored by Messi for Argentina against Austria earlier in the tournament, claiming that similar physical challenges were permitted to stand for other nations, while Brazil’s efforts were unfairly nullified.

The federation’s letter further pointed out that the disallowed goal against Scotland “appeared surprising not only to the Brazilian players but also to the Scottish team, whose reactions suggested they did not expect a review or the goal to be overturned.”

Ancelotti shifts focus to Japan clash

While the federation intensifies its protest off the field, Carlo Ancelotti remains focused on preparing his squad for their upcoming Round of 32 encounter against Japan in Houston. Despite the controversy, Vinicius Jr later scored again, with Matheus Cunha adding a third to secure Brazil’s position at the top of Group C.

Speaking after the game, Ancelotti praised his team’s progress: “Now we are playing as a unit, that’s the objective. We’re not perfect yet, there are things to improve. We can move the ball quicker when we’re in control,” he said. “I’m pleased because the team has improved a lot; we’re now solid. In the knockout stage, solidity is crucial. Compared to the first game, we’re making fewer mistakes, have better rhythm, and are more clinical in attack.”