Palmeiras has officially stated that the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) admitted to an error by the match officials in the decision to disallow Bruno Fuchs’ goal during the final minutes of the 1-1 draw against Remo in the Brazilian Championship. The club released a statement following a meeting with members of the refereeing commission, which included representatives from other Série A clubs.
The meeting was attended by Palmeiras’ football director, Anderson Barros, who had previously criticized the controversial call. In the dying moments of the match at Mangueirão, Bruno Fuchs had scored what appeared to be the winning goal, but it was ruled out after a VAR review determined that Flaco López had handled the ball before the goal. The VAR suggested the review, and referee Rafael Klein upheld it.
According to the club’s statement, Palmeiras emphasized that it never sought specific punishments for the on-field referee or the VAR team, acknowledging that all professionals are susceptible to errors. However, it criticized the “simplistic” measures often taken after such mistakes, citing the suspension of referee Ramon Abatti Abel following his decisions in the Palmeiras vs. São Paulo classic in 2025.
The official note from Palmeiras reads: “Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras informs that, in a meeting held this Monday (11) with representatives of other Série A clubs, the CBF Refereeing Commission recognized the error committed by the officiating team in disallowing the goal scored by defender Bruno Fuchs in stoppage time of the second half against Remo. During the meeting, Palmeiras – represented by director Anderson Barros – again demanded measures to prevent such serious errors from recurring, as they risk compromising the competition’s credibility. The club emphasizes that it never requested punishments for the main referee or VAR, as it understands that all professionals, including the best, are prone to mistakes. Furthermore, it is not for Palmeiras or any other club to interfere in CBF decisions, which have made important investments to improve Brazilian refereeing. However, it is crucial to reflect on the treatment given to referee Ramon Abatti Abel, who was severely penalized by the CBF and STJD a few months ago for events in the São Paulo vs. Palmeiras classic. Simplistic solutions, adopted merely to offer temporary satisfaction to external parties, will not contribute to the evolution of refereeing and national football.”
