Abrafut says he will go to the STJD against Felipe Melo, from Fluminense, and Bruno Spindel, from Flamengo: ‘Referees are being used as a cloud of smoke’

Abrafut (Association of Football Referees of Brazil) promised to file a notice of infraction with the STJD against Felipe Melosteering wheel FluminenseIt is Bruno Spindeldirector of football at Flamengodue to complaints against the arbitration in Saturday’s games Brazilian championship.

After committing a foul and receiving a yellow card from referee Raphael Claus in the draw with Atlético-MG, Felipe Melo was filmed shouting: “John Textor you’re right!”. In a note, Abrafut considered the phrase a mention of “unfounded accusations” by the owner of SAF do Botafogo.

Bruno Spindel made a harsh statement after Flamengo’s 2-2 draw with Red Bull Bragantino against the CBF, saying that clubs that apply pressure, take referees to the CPI and make accusations of fraud are benefiting.

“What we at ABRAFUT are seeing is an increasingly unfair scenario against arbitration. Our referees are being used as a cloud of smoke to cover the teams’ responsibility for their players’ mistakes”, says an excerpt from the note”.

At the time of writing this report, Abrafut had not yet commented on the allegations made by Marcos Braz, Flamengo’s vice-president of football, of external interference in the VAR room. The red-black leader did not present any evidence.

Check out Abrafut’s official note:

“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 cloud of smoke 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.”