Brazil FA Blames Police, Ball Boys For Bolivia Defeat
The Brazilian Football Federation President, Samir Xaud, has blamed ball boys, police, and referees for the country’s 1-0 defeat to Bolivia in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Brazil suffered their first defeat under Carlo Ancelotti on Wednesday at the El Alto Municipal Stadium, which is 4,088 meters (13,412 feet) above sea level.
Miguel Terceros scored the only goal from the penalty spot just before halftime to hand Bolivia a playoff spot in the final round of qualification for the World Cup.
However, Xaud criticised Bolivia for their anti-football antics, heaping blame on the referee, ball boys, and the police officers.
He said: “We came to play soccer, and what we saw from the moment we arrived was a completely anti-game.
“Even at this altitude of 4,000 meters, we played against the referees, the police, and the ball boys, who were taking the balls off the field and putting them on the field. It was a real mess. This isn’t what we expect for world football or South American football. What we want is to grow even further.
“This kind of attitude, especially when playing at altitude, is difficult. I hope CONMEBOL takes action, precisely because we have everything recorded. This can’t happen; it’s absurd.”
Xaud was also disappointed with the local police for their ill-treatment meted to the Brazilian delegation
He said: “The police were horrible against the entire team, the entire coaching staff. It’s something we don’t expect. We welcome all the teams very warmly, we embrace them. We put everything at their disposal, and when we play outside of Brazil, especially here, the reception we receive here is absurd. I’m outraged.”
Balls were thrown onto the pitch in the last stages of the game to disrupt Brazil’s attacks, an act which drew the anger of Carlo Ancelotti.
He said: “Football was a bit different from what is normally done on the pitch. Bolivia’s objective was very big, congratulations to them, but there are officials who have to control that, not the players, the coach, the president… The officials on the pitch, off the pitch, have to control that.”
The former Real Madrid manager was delighted to qualify for the World Cup while backing the team to impress in the tournament.
Ancelotti said: “That [World Cup] is the goal. I think we’ll do well in the World Cup.
“I think that based on what the team has been doing in our games, I have the utmost confidence in the team, in the squad, in the players. We’re going to have a successful World Cup, we’re going to fight every game. Today’s game was very special, in every sense. VAR decided the penalty, not the referee. These are things that, obviously, can be improved to have a better game on the field.”
Brazil ended the campaign fifth in the standings, with 28 points, their worst finish in their World Cup qualifying history.
The Selecao won eight, drew four, and lost six out of their 18 matches in the qualifiers, scoring 24 goals and conceding 17 to book their place in the mundial.
Argentina finished top of the group with 38 points followed by Ecuador with 29 points, Colombia, Uruguay, and Brazil occupied the third, fourth, and fifth position respectively with 28 points apiece.
Brazil FA Blames Police, Ball Boys For Bolivia Defeat is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
