Abrafut confirms that it will sue the STJD due to statements by Felipe Melo and Bruno Spindel | Sport

The Brazilian Football Referees Association (Abrafut) issued a statement this Sunday (5) that will call the STJD to request punishments for defender Felipe Melo, from Fluminense, and Bruno Spindel, executive director of Flamengo, due to their statements regarding to arbitration last Saturday (4).

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“What we at Abrafut are seeing is an increasingly unfair scenario against refereeing. Our referees are being used as a cloud of smoke to cover the teams’ responsibility for their players’ mistakes. In order to place them as victims, they accuse and hold the referee responsible. However, they do not recognize that the failures of their players, as well as their behavior on the field and that of the teams’ technical committee, play a fundamental and essential role in the smooth running of the game”, stated Abrafut.

Felipe Melo was angry with referee Raphael Claus after receiving a yellow card during the match. match against Atlético-MG. After being penalized, the tricolor defender endorsed John Textor’s speech, majority owner of SAF do Botafogo, who has vehemently stated that there is manipulation in Brazilian football.

Bruno Spindel was also angry with the refereeing of his match, between Flamengo and Bragantino. When complaining about the controversial moves involving Paulo Cesar Zanovelli’s arbitration, the leader stated that “those who complain about fraud, theft and manipulation are benefiting from the referees”.

Check out Abrafut’s statement in full:

“Last Saturday, 05/04/24, after the match between Fluminense You’re right’. This phrase refers to several unfounded accusations coming from the owner of Botafogo, who has made a move leading to suspicion of match-fixing in Brazilian football.

Another accusation that cannot be passed is that of Flamengo director, Bruno Spindel. In the Bragantino x Flamengo game, she rebelled against the performance of referee Paulo Zanovelli saying that Flamengo is being harmed and that the arbitration will favor the club that accuses her of theft, fraud, assault, putting pressure on the referees and thus guaranteeing a favorable result to your team.

What we at ABRAFUT are seeing is an increasingly unfair scenario against arbitration. Our referees are being used as a smoke cloud to cover teams’ responsibility for their players’ mistakes. In order to place them as victims, they accuse and hold the arbitration responsible. However, they do not recognize that the failures of their players, as well as their behavior on the field and that of the teams’ technical committee, play a fundamental and essential role in the smooth running of the game.

It will be impossible to have quality football both for the members who work in this sport, as well as for the fans and spectators if all dissatisfaction is justified by unfair mistrust, disbelief, suspicion and incredulity towards the refereeing work.

ABRAFUT, in defense of its referees, will file a notice of infraction with the STJD.”