Author: Soorya G
The Refereeing Commission of the Brazilian Football Confederation acknowledged that there was an error by the referees in not awarding a penalty to Grêmio in the match against Corinthians. This happened during the dramatic 4-4 draw between the two teams on Monday night at the Arena Neo Química, in a rescheduled match of the 15th round of the Brazilian Championship’s Serie A.
In a video published on the organization’s website on Tuesday morning, Péricles Bassols, technical manager of the VAR (video assistant referee), made a thorough analysis before revealing the communication between the referees on the pitch and those of the VAR.
In the 49th minute, an action involving a Fogão player caused him to block a cross into the penalty area with his arm in an unnatural position, thus increasing his body space. Blocking the ball with your arm in this way constitutes a criminal offence and, as such, should have been awarded a penalty kick on the pitch. When an incident like this is not marked on the pitch, the VAR should have recommended a review.
Listening to the audio, it’s clear that Yuri Alberto used his right arm to intercept Ferreira’s cross. However, VAR referee Emerson de Almeida Ferreira, from Minas Gerais, believed that the Corinthians player was “withdrawing his arm”:
“The player, even though he’s in that position, I think it’s natural for that ball to be played, for the defense, he doesn’t intend to block. For me, he doesn’t intend to block, he intends to contest the ball. It’s different from blocking. He’s withdrawing his arm. He’s not moving his arm towards the ball. He’s withdrawing it. Wilton, play checked, ok. You can play; the player is withdrawing his arm, he’s in a competitive position, and the ball is going towards his arm.”
During Emerson de Almeida Ferreira’s analysis, VAR assistant Michel Patrick Costa Guimarães questioned his colleague, but Emerson maintained his position.
“Don’t you think he’s too open? That the ball would have passed through if it hadn’t hit your arm?” asked the VAR assistant.
After the match, Gremio officials, players and coach Renato Gaúcho protested against the referees’ decision not to award the penalty. The Tricolor coach even said that Luan, a former Corinthians player with a turbulent history at the club, would have taken the penalty if it had been given. Gremio’s management also got involved and threatened to take action against the referees.