Brazil's football confederation (CBF) has filed a formal complaint to FIFA over the disallowed goal in their 3-0 win against Scotland at the 2026 World Cup, dragging Lionel Messi and referee Cesar Arturo Ramos into the dispute. The complaint, seen by Brazilian publication Estadao, argues that VAR intervention was inconsistent, citing Messi's first goal for Argentina against Austria as a contrasting example.
CBF letter protests VAR decision
In the letter, the CBF requested consistent application of VAR criteria, stating: "One aspect that particularly caught our attention during this tournament was the approach adopted by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Throughout the competition, there seems to have been a clear emphasis on respecting the on-field referee's interpretation and limiting intervention to situations involving clear and obvious errors."
The letter continues: "Brazil's disallowed goal against Scotland in the 21st minute does not seem to align with the philosophy adopted throughout the competition. It is worth noting that the decision seemed unexpected not only for the Brazilian team, but also for the Scottish players, whose immediate reactions suggested that they did not expect a review or the subsequent annulment of the goal."
Messi's goal cited as precedent
To support their argument, the CBF referenced the play that led to Lionel Messi's first goal in Argentina's Group J match against Austria. The implication is that a similar on-field contact was allowed to stand, while Brazil's goal was overturned. The letter adds: "Our main interest is not to revisit individual decisions, but to ensure that the criteria governing VAR intervention are applied consistently, transparently and equally to all teams throughout the tournament."
Referee appointment questioned
The CBF also complained about the appointment of Mexican referee Cesar Arturo Ramos for the Scotland match, citing his negative history with Brazil. In 2018, Ramos officiated a group game between Brazil and Switzerland, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Brazil then filed a complaint to FIFA's Arbitration Committee, stating: "We believe it was strange that Mexican referee Ramos did not use VAR to determine Joao Miranda was fouled during a corner kick. Likewise, we would like to know why we did not receive a penalty for an obvious foul on Gabriel Jesus."
Match details and aftermath
Despite the disallowed goal, Brazil won 3-0, with Vinicius Junior scoring twice and Matheus Cunha adding a third. The result ended Scotland's hopes of reaching the knockout stages. Brazil are set to face Japan in the round of 32 on Monday. After the match, coach Carlo Ancelotti said: "Now we are playing as a team, that is the goal. We are not perfect, we have things to improve. We can be a little quicker when we have control. I'm happy because the team has improved a lot, now we are solid. In the knockout stage, solidity is very important."
