Furious Carlo Ancelotti launches scathing attack on ‘inexperienced’ referee as he and Raphinha are both sent off during Brazil’s shock 3-2 defeat by Japan
Carlo Ancelotti hit out at an ‘inexperienced’ referee after the Brazil boss and captain Raphinha were sent off in the closing stages of their shock 3-2 defeat by Japan.
Ancelotti and Raphinha, who had been substituted, had furiously protested over the nature of Japan’s stoppage time winner by Tatsuhiro Sakamoto.
Singaporean referee Jansen Foo Chuan Hui had allowed play to continue after Takumi Minamino had made multiple challenges on Brazil midfielder Joao Gomes, before eventually coming away with the ball.
Amid Brazilian appeals for a foul, Japan launched a late attack with Sakamoto ultimately lifting the ball over goalkeeper Pedro Morisco.
Brazilian protests continued despite Japan’s winner being confirmed by VAR, with Ancelotti and Raphinha being shown red cards by the referee for their reactions.
‘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 said.
Carlo Ancelotti was sent off as Brazil suffered a 3-2 defeat by Japan in a friendly
Ancelotti criticised the ‘inexperienced’ referee following the match and revealed he had been told he had been sent off for failing to control his bench
Brazil captain Raphinha was also dismissed amid their protests over Japan’s winning goal
Ancelotti added: ‘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. Some players who played for the first time, who showed good quality. For 70 minutes, the team was good.
‘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.’
Security staff had entered the pitch at full time to separate Brazilian players from the officials.
Barcelona star Raphinha claimed post-match that Brazil had also been angered over a potential handball in the build-up to Japan’s opening goal, as well as seeing a penalty appeal waved away.
‘First of all, I’d like to take this opportunity to apologise for my behaviour and for being sent off,’ Raphinha told Globo.
‘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.
Brazil had been convinced there had been a foul in the build-up to Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s winner
‘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.’
Brazil had fallen 2-0 down in the friendly with Takefusa Kubo and Keito Nakamura scoring in the opening 20 minutes at Singapore’s National Stadium.
Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr scored twice to level the match before Sakamoto’s controversial late winner.
It is the second time Japan have beaten Brazil 3-2 in the past 18 months, but the five-time world champions did win 2-1 in their last-32 meeting at this summer’s World Cup.
