Rafael Lima condemns VAR after Grêmio equaliser ruled out at Botafogo | OneFootball

Rafael Lima, Grêmio’s vice-president of football, criticised the officials after Carlos Vinicius had a potential 3-3 equaliser ruled out on 45 minutes of the second half. According to Globo.com, he said technology had been used to the team’s detriment.

The incident came at Nilton Santos on Wednesday night in a rearranged fixture from the 21st round of the Brasileirão, which ended in defeat and left Grêmio close to the relegation zone.

VAR reviewed the play using semi-automatic offside, measuring the striker’s shoulder. The image did not appear to show the offence clearly.

Lima argued the footage made the decision at least inconclusive, and said that when lines are level, offside calls have always favoured the attack. He described the scene as a disgrace and said the technology was serving to penalise the team that scored.

He alleged systematic errors against Grêmio and said any later acknowledgment from the CBF that Carlos Vinicius was onside, or that a penalty should have been awarded, would not return points.

He also cited moments in defeats to Bragantino and Vitória, in which the CBF’s ombudsman accepted that a Grêmio goal should not have been annulled and that an opponent should have been sent off.

Lima added that professionalising refereeing and creating committees mean little if results on the pitch do not change, urging the CBF to treat Grêmio equally.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”