CONMEBOL have admitted the referee and Video Assistant Referee [VAR] made a huge error and mistake by not awarding Brazil a penalty in their 1-1 draw with Colombia on Tuesday.
The contest was the final Group D game and the incident occurred in the 42nd minute as Vinicius Junior was tripped by Daniel Munoz.
In what was a top-of-the-table deciding clash at Levi Stadium, the situation occurred while Brazil were leading by a lone goal and Vinicius ran into the box from the left before he was brought down by Munoz.
The Brazil players clamoured for a spot kick but Jesus Valenzuela declined and opposed, the VAR headed by Argentina’s Mauro Vigliano also concurred with the on field decision.
The South American football governing body said in a video released:
“In a challenge for the ball inside the penalty area, a defender does not touch the ball.
“As a result, there is a contact that is not reasonable for the action. The referee fails to observe the action and allows play to continue.
“The VAR fails to identify that the defender did not touch the ball before recklessly contacting the Brazilian striker. Therefore, the VAR incorrectly confirms the original on-field decision.”
The error proved a costly one for Dorival Jr’s team, who were on the hunt for maximum points to snatch their rivals’ the top spot in the group
.Brazil next battle Group C winner Uruguay in the last eight stage on Saturday.
“After that, we conceded a goal. The referee was decisive. Only he and the VAR didn’t see a penalty, which for sure was there,” the Brazilian gaffer stated after the tie.
