Refereeing blunder
sends Brazil out of
Copa America
Members of Peru’s national team (in red)
celebrate after defeating Brazil in their
Copa America Centenario football
tournament match in Foxborough,
Massachusetts, United States, on June 12,
2016
Timothy A. CLARY
The Copa America Centenario erupted
into controversy on Sunday after a
refereeing blunder sent Brazil crashing to
a 1-0 defeat against Peru — and out of
the tournament.
The defeat left Brazil struggling to digest
their worst performance in the Copa
America since 1987, the last occasion the
five-time world champions failed to make
it past the group stage.
Brazil, needing only a draw to qualify
for the quarter-finals as winners of
Group B, looked to be on course for a
place in the last eight with 15 minutes to
go against Peru.
But a rare foray into Brazilian territory
from Peru ended with Raul Ruidiaz
bundling in Andy Polo’s cross from the
byline, appearing to use his arm to score.
Ruidiaz wheeled away to celebrate and
Uruguayan referee Andres Cunha
signalled for the goal.
Brazil’s players protested furiously,
swarming around Cunha in a bid to
persuade the official to reverse his
decision.
The protests appeared to have swayed
Cunha, who looked to be frantically
checking with the fourth official via his
headpiece to determine whether the goal
should stand.
Yet after a chaotic delay of around four
minutes — with players from both sides
surrounding the referee — Cunha ruled
the goal should stand.
Multiple replays from different angles,
however, showed that Ruidiaz had used
his arm to knock the ball into the net
past Brazil keeper Alisson.
Brazil pressed forward in the final
closing minutes in an attempt to find an
equaliser that would take them through
but it was to no avail.
Elias squandered a golden chance from
close range in injury time and Brazil’s
fate was sealed.
Peru will now play Colombia in the
quarter-finals after finishing top of
Group B.
Brazil coach Dunga lambasted the
decision to allow Peru’s goal.
“I am sure the Brazilian fans saw the
game and saw how Brazil was
eliminated,” Brazil coach Dunga said.
“There is no way to anticipate
imponderables. The team was not
eliminated by anything to do with
football,” he added, criticizing the
lengthy deliberations between the match
officials which held up the game.
“I do not quite understand who or what
the referee was consulting,” Dunga said,
adding that he had watched replays of the
incident on screens in the Gillette
Stadium.
“It was such a clear handball, but we
have no influence over the referee,” he
said.
Peru coach Ricardo Gareca meanwhile
insisted his side had deserved to win. “I
thought we did enough to deserve to
win,” Gareca said, adding he had not had
a clear view of the handball incident.
“I haven’t seen it yet. I’ve heard some
comments. But I never think too much
about mistakes by officials,” he said.
Brazil’s early exit is certain to pile
pressure on Dunga after what was a
lacklustre tournament.
The Brazilians, desperate to begin the
road to recovery after their humiliating
7-1 defeat by Germany in the World Cup
semi-finals two years ago, never
convinced at any point of the group stage.
A 0-0 opening draw with Ecuador —
where a refereeing decision which might
have given Ecuador a victory went in
Brazil’s favour — was followed by a 7-1
drubbing of Haiti, arguably the weakest
team in the tournament.
Another drab display against Peru
followed on Sunday, with Dunga’s side
barely getting a shot on goal in the first-
half with the exception of a shot by
Gabriel in the 26th minute that was
tipped away by Peru goalkeeper Pedro
Gallese.
Dunga, meanwhile, emphasized that
Brazil’s long-term rebuilding job would
take time.
“There are no quick-fixes,” he said. “We
will need to be patient.
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