In the 31st round of the 2024 Brazilian Championship, the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) decided to cancel the assignments of three referees, whose performances were widely contested. The referees Ramon Abatti Abel, Braulio da Silva Machado, and Flavio Rodrigues de Souza were appointed to officiate the matches between Palmeiras x Fortaleza, Flamengo x Juventude, and Vitória x Fluminense, respectively, but their performances generated dissatisfaction among the teams.
Additionally, VAR referees were also suspended, including Diego Pombo Lopez, responsible for the Maracanã; Pablo Ramon, from Allianz Parque; Rodrigo Guarizo Ferreira do Amaral, from Amigão; and José Cláudio Rocha Filho, from Barradão. According to the CBF Referee Commission, these professionals will undergo a “technical performance evaluation” and have been replaced until the conclusion of the process.
Controversies in the matches: teams dissatisfied with refereeing decisions
At Allianz Parque, Fortaleza contested several decisions made by Ramon Abatti Abel, particularly regarding fouls called against Titi and Pikachu. Meanwhile, at the Maracanã, Juventude expressed dissatisfaction with Braulio da Silva Machado, criticizing the penalty awarded to the home team and the expulsion of player Nenê, deemed excessive by the Caxias do Sul team.
At Barradão, Fluminense questioned the decisions made by Flavio Rodrigues de Souza, claiming that the penalty awarded to Matheuzinho against Lima in the final minutes was a misinterpretation.
These controversies involving refereeing have drawn attention and intensified criticism. The CBF stated that it will continue to monitor the performance of the referees involved, as well as the procedures of refereeing and mediation in future processes.
The issue of refereeing in the 2024 Brazilian Championship is generating discussions about refereeing procedures and fair solutions.
The refereeing in the judiciary and in organizations like the CBF reflects broader practices of conflict resolution in Brazil. To ensure impartiality, the Civil Procedure Code promotes the commitment to an arbitral procedure in instances of sports conflict.
Red Bull Bragantino has also shown interest in the current refereeing methods and their application. On Monday, the club mentioned its expectations regarding future adaptations in the referee evaluation processes in the 2024 Brazilian Championship.
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