Brazil lodge formal FIFA complaint demanding referee be removed

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has formally complained to FIFA regarding the performance of referee Cesar Ramos during their World Cup group stage match against Scotland. The controversy stems from a VAR intervention that ruled out a goal scored by Vinicius Jr, which was initially awarded by the on-field official.

Following the decision, which deemed a challenge on Jack Hendry to be a foul, the Brazilian federation expressed intense frustration, arguing the contact did not warrant a review. CBF president Samir Xaud has written directly to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, citing a lack of officiating consistency throughout the tournament.

The federation has requested that Ramos be removed from their future assignments in North America, referencing a "negative history" with the official dating back to the 2018 World Cup. Furthermore, the complaint alleged hypocrisy, suggesting that similar challenges in a match involving Lionel Messi and Argentina were not penalized, leading to unfair treatment of Brazil.

Meanwhile, manager Carlo Ancelotti remains focused on the pitch as Brazil prepare for their round of 32 clash against Japan. Despite the off-field tension, Ancelotti expressed satisfaction with his team's defensive solidity and recent growth. "Now we are playing as a team, that is the goal," the manager stated. "We are solid, and in the knockout stage, solidity is very important."