Palmeiras boss slams refereeing: "Don’t spin hypocritical tales" | OneFootball

Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira mentioned the attitude and statement of coach Leonardo Jardim after the goalless draw between Palmeiras and Cruzeiro this Sunday at Allianz Parque, during the 30th round of the Brazilian Championship. The Cruzeiro coach answered a question, complained about Brazilian football refereeing, and left the press conference. The Palmeiras coach, in turn, agreed with his compatriot.

The controversies surrounding referee Rafael Rodrigo Klein revolved around two key incidents: the non-expulsion of Gustavo Gómez after a harsh foul on Wanderson, which the referee deemed only a yellow card after VAR review. In the second half, there was the expulsion of Cruzeiro defender Fabrício Bruno, which also sparked debate.

“I was just listening to my fellow countryman, with whom I have worked before. He said he came to enjoy Brazilian football. He spoke harshly about the refereeing, the players' union, the pitches, the calendar. I want to tell him that it's something I have been doing since the first day I arrived. I came here to value Palmeiras and Brazilian football. It's in the book. There's a separate annex about it. I think he really spoke correctly, but it doesn't depend on us coaches. It depends on those who decide to make difficult decisions that will make Brazilian football easier in the future. As he said, it's not possible for a group of amateurs, it's not their responsibility, but it's something very deep. When we see even the CBF itself has different criteria, with Ramon Abatti Abel and Wilton Pereira, one is frozen and the other continues officiating,” pointed out Abel.

Abel also commented on the dilemma he faced before the match due to the proximity of the Libertadores semifinal decision against LDU this Thursday. Despite the doubt about resting players or not, the coach chose to maintain the core of the lineup and only made three changes: the entries of Bruno Fuchs, Jefté, and Maurício in place of Emi Martinez, Piquerez (suspended), and Veiga.

“It's really a big dilemma [whether to rest or send the starters]. We knew today's game would be extremely difficult. I arrived here tired, and I didn't even use my physical strength, imagine the players. Two days later we have a game of this magnitude, we didn't sleep, against a team that had a week to prepare. We fight for the same goals,” he evaluated.

Abel vents about refereeing

Abel Ferreira also took the opportunity and Jardim's speech to vent about refereeing – not only in the Palmeiras vs. Cruzeiro match but in Brazilian football as a whole. The coach criticized those who claim that Palmeiras has been favored by referees and classified the narratives created as “hypocritical.”

“I understand Jardim's frustration, and as I understand him after the game I played at Maracanã. The narratives that are created if team A, B, or C are favored, everyone has already realized that it's no use creating this hypocritical narrative. To the fans, be prepared because Palmeiras doesn't have the same media strength as other clubs. It's not just Palmeiras. All teams are favored or harmed. When a hypocritical narrative is created only around Palmeiras, it's almost like 'let's find a target and since they're ahead [in the standings], let's try.' This was done before the game, you saw a narrative that Palmeiras was [favored],” stated the coach.

“All teams complain about refereeing. Today, the referee even whistled thoughts. There weren't 45 minutes of effective play. If I were a fan, I would be sad to pay for a ticket to come here and see a referee officiate like that. We have been favored and we have been harmed, Flamengo too, São Paulo too. If we do the math and stir the soup, we will realize there is a common denominator. It's no use making just one victim. Don't create hypocritical narratives that Palmeiras is favored,” he continued.

Finally, the Palmeiras coach also highlighted the need, in his view, for the professionalization of referees by the CBF. The coach called for changes.

“Palmeiras has already been favored and harmed, Flamengo, Cruzeiro, Grêmio, all teams. It's not Palmeiras. There is a problem that Brazilian football has and needs to be solved by the right people. To have refereeing independent of the CBF, so that there are no different criteria. Only one referee is frozen and another continues? What criterion is this? I can't understand. […] And as Jardim said, it's officiated by amateurs who need help, and we have to help with working conditions, have more referees to rest, because I understand,” he preached.

“They are the ones who have to make the most decisions, they need to have a clear head. The coach can rotate the players so that the decisions are better. Isn't it better to create an independent refereeing commission? Pay salaries consistent with Brazilian football? Have a larger pool of referees? It's possible to do, because in less competitive leagues they do. The criteria are different for the same incidents, but it has to be the same for everyone,” concluded the Portuguese.

Situation in the standings

The draw wasn't a big deal for either team. Palmeiras reached their third consecutive game without a win and opened only a one-point lead over Flamengo, who lost in the round. Despite this, Palmeiras remained in the lead with 62 points.

Upcoming Palmeiras matches

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.