‘I’ve never seen anything like it’: Abel Ferreira fumes at pitch size | OneFootball

For the match on the third matchday of Group F, the Paraguayan side deliberately cut four meters off the width of its field at La Nueva Olla, reducing it from 68 to 64 meters (the minimum allowed by Conmebol). The move, aimed at stifling the Brazilian team’s play, was visible throughout the broadcast, as the erased original lines could be clearly seen with the naked eye.

The tactic devised by the Argentine coach, which also included a five-man defensive line, sparked Abel Ferreira’s fury. The Portuguese manager did not hide his indignation at the press conference and took aim at the tournament organizers: “It’s sad to see this in the 21st century, very sad. You have to ask Conmebol.”

Despite the “shrinking” of the pitch, Verdão managed to score through Jhon Arias, although the home side rescued a point thanks to an own goal by Carlos Miguel. A similar episode involving Vélez in 2022 against Flamengo was recalled, when the Argentine team neglected the condition of the grass to hamper its rival.

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