CBF issues official statement after controversy in Corinthians vs. Bragantino

Amidst the barrage of criticism and indignation from Corinthians fans, the CBF decided to officially take a position on the penalty awarded in favor of Red Bull Bragantino in the match against Corinthians .

The play, which took place in the 26th minute of the first half with the score still at zero, generated immediate controversy. However, according to a technical report released this Tuesday (15), the refereeing led by Bruno Arleu de Araújo acted correctly, and with the support of the VAR.

International committee validates penalty award

The Brazilian Football Confederation convened a virtual meeting with the International Expert Advisory Committee, which includes renowned figures such as Nicola Rizzoli, Néstor Pitana, and Sandro Ricci. All members analyzed the incident and confirmed: a penalty was awarded.

"The Corinthians/SP player is unable to reach the ball in the air and, with his leg, obstructs the Red Bull Bragantino/SP player's path inside the penalty area," the report stated. "The defender's leg makes contact with the attacker's body at shoulder height."

In addition, the VAR audio was released, revealing that Bruno Arleu initially did not see the infraction, but changed his decision after reviewing the play with guidance from Rafael Traci.

Corinthians' reaction and request for action

Therefore, Corinthians was quick to respond. The club sent a letter to the CBF questioning the decision and demanding action against the referees involved.

It is worth noting that defender Cacá, the protagonist of the play, ended up scoring the equalizer, but Timão suffered a 2-1 defeat in stoppage time.

Impact and next steps in the Brasileirão

Therefore, the São Paulo club now needs to turn the page quickly. Therefore, the next commitment is this Wednesday (16), against Ceará, away from home. It is worth noting that the defeat caused the team to lose positions in the table.

Thus, the controversy joins the list of episodes in which refereeing takes center stage, fueling discussions about the effectiveness of VAR in Brazilian football. For a large portion of the fan base, the debate touches on the credibility of the sport. Thus, the pressure on referees continues to mount.