The arbitration will soon be discussed at the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD).
The Brazilian Football Referees Association (ABRAFUT) announced this Sunday (05) that it will send to the Court a notice of infraction against Felipe Meloathlete from Fluminenseand also Bruno Spindel, executive director of football at Flamengofor criticizing referees in matches of the Brazilian championship.
See the statement released by ABRAFUT:
“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”.
The complaint regarding Felipe Melo refers to the 2-2 draw between Fluminense and Atlético-MG, when the defender said “John Textor is right” after being warned with a yellow card by referee Raphael Claus in the 42nd minute of the first time.
The athlete’s statement is based on the complaint from the owner of SAF do Botafogo about alleged manipulation of results in Brazilian football.
The quote to Bruno Spindel comes from the interview given by the manager after Flamengo’s 1-1 draw against Red Bull Bragantino.
