After controversy over refereeing in the Championship, CBF and clubs will have weekly meetings

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced last Friday (23) that, starting next week, virtual meetings will be held to discuss refereeing decisions in matches of all series of the Brazilian Championship. In addition to the president of the CBF, Ednaldo Rodrigues, representatives of the federations, football clubs, as well as referees who referee the games under the organization's responsibility will participate in the weekly meetings.

CBF President will mediate weekly meetings

The meeting, which took place at the CBF headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, was held with the aim of finding solutions to the controversies that have been occurring in all series of the Brasileirão. The refereeing team and the VAR have been the target of much criticism due to errors and mistakes made in marking plays and issuing cards. Players have been constantly complaining during interviews, and their statements are reinforced in post-match press conferences with coaches and directors. The situation has become unsustainable, to the point of questioning the capacity of the refereeing professionals and the VAR.

According to Ednaldo Rodrigues, situations like these should not happen in football, and the meetings, which will now be weekly with everyone involved in Championship matches, aim to hear constructive criticism and seek direction: “The goal is to improve refereeing and we have to have the humility to listen. These issues have to be discussed. Criticism helps in the improvement process”he declared.

_{Meeting held at CBF Headquarters to discuss improvements in Brazilian refereeing (Photo: reproduction/Rafael Ribeiro/CBF)}

Clubs support CBF initiative

Among those supporting the weekly meetings is the president of the CBF Arbitration Committee, Wilson Seneme. He stated that the initiative is important to democratize Brazilian football, giving a voice to the main stakeholders, in this case, club directors who feel they have been harmed by some wrong decisions on the field: “Two points were highlighted – the standardization of criteria and the use of VAR, which also needs a better established criterion to be able to assist the referees on the field”he stated.

Wilson Seneme concluded his speech by stating that the meetings starting next Monday (26) were well received by the clubs: “Brazilian arbitration comes out much stronger from an event like this”, he emphasized. The president of the Arbitration Committee sees in the upcoming meetings a rapprochement with the national clubs of series A, B, C and D, the clarification of doubts and criteria adopted by the referees in decision-making and who knows, less criticism and negative visibility for the members of the highest entity of Brazilian football.

Featured Photo: Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the CBF (Reproduction/Rafael Ribeiro/CBF)