Security had to separate Carlo Ancelotti and his Brazil players from the referee during Saturday's 3-2 loss to Japan, as a friendly match quickly turned sour. The game was all square at 2-2 headed into stoppage time thanks to strikes from Takefusa Kubo and Keito Nakamura, as well as a Vinicius Junior brace.
Late Winner Sparks Confrontation
The already tense atmosphere turned frosty a minute into extra time, when Tatsuhiro Sakamoto scored the winner for the Asian nation. Referee Jansen Foo Chuan Hui saw no problem in Takumi Minamino's multiple challenges of Joao Gomes, which may have been given as a foul on another day - especially considering Gomes remained on the ground as his opponent ran off with the ball at his feet.
Sakamoto then dinked the ball over Pedro Morisco to give Japan a late goal, and ultimately the winner. Brazil were quick to confront the official while Japanese players wheeled off in celebration, as VAR confirmed that the goal was fine to stand.
Red Cards and Security Intervention
Ancelotti and Raphinha - who had just been substituted - were shown red cards, leading to yet further appeals from the Brazilian national team. Security were then forced to intervene and pull Ancelotti, as well as Vini Junior and Bruno Guimaraes, away from the Singaporean official in the aftermath.
In the aftermath, Ancelotti told the media Chuan Hui's reason for sending him off in the first place. He explained: "He gave me the red card because he said I was not able to control the bench, and that all the players were on the field, that is the reason."
Ancelotti and Raphinha React
"A pity the result, because we don't like to lose the game, but we have to look at what we did well. There are many things," Ancelotti added. "Some players who played for the first time, who showed good quality. For 70 minutes, the team was good."
Twisting the knife further on the officiating, the Italian added: "The result, obviously, is conditioned by the attitude of the referee, who did not blow the whistle. But it's not his fault; it was a high-level match, and I think he didn't have the experience to manage this type of match."
Raphinha, meanwhile, was irate over a potential handball leading up to Japan's opener, as well as having penalty claims silenced. He told Globo: "First of all, I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise for my behaviour and for being sent off. Sometimes it's hard to keep calm, especially after what I felt were so many refereeing errors during the match. I tried to speak to him several times, and not once did I feel he was open to discussion."
"I believe that he made many errors throughout the game, and that is unacceptable. In my view, their first goal involved a foul where the opponent took the ball off me with his hand. I think it's a foul, but I can understand why it wasn't given based on the current law. Then there was the penalty in the first half, in my opinion it was a penalty, but he said no. Then, for their third goal, there was a clear foul on Joao Gomes. With the help of VAR, he eventually allowed the goal. It's very difficult not to talk about the refereeing."
