According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the Brazilian delegation has expressed strong dissatisfaction with CONMEBOL (the governing body of the Copa América), feeling that they have lost their influence within the South American football organization and have been subject to unfair treatment in several aspects.
The Brazilian Football Confederation’s anger reached a boiling point when the team arrived at their Las Vegas hotel and were forced to enter through a back door, infuriating its president, Ednaldo Rodrigues, who exclaimed, “We are not criminals!” to security personnel. Head coach Dunga also joined the protest. This incident is just one example of the numerous grievances the Brazilian federation has against CONMEBOL.
Firstly, the training facilities have been a source of frustration. The Brazilian FA has complained about the lack of shower facilities at the Betty Wilson Soccer Complex, the designated training ground in Las Vegas, which prevents players from showering after training sessions, causing significant inconvenience for their daily routines and recovery.
Secondly, the scheduling of matches has also been viewed as unfair by Brazil. Brazilian media have highlighted the comparative ease of Argentina’s fixtures against teams like Ecuador and Canada, while Brazil faces stronger opponents such as Uruguay and Colombia. The Brazilian FA feels disadvantaged, longing for the influence it had during Ricardo Teixeira’s tenure as CONMEBOL president (1989-2012), although Teixeira was later investigated due to issues.
Furthermore, Brazilian star Vinícius Júnior publicly aired his discontent with CONMEBOL following the first match. He barely concealed his criticism of the tournament organization, stating, “The Copa América is a challenge for us due to field conditions and refereeing decisions that always seem to go against us. But we must be strong and let our performances speak. However, when we do speak out, CONMEBOL accuses us of talking too much.”
Particularly infuriating was the missed penalty call in a crucial group-stage match. With Brazil leading 1-0, Vinícius was clearly fouled, warranting a penalty, but the referee missed the call, and VAR failed to rectify the error. Hours later, CONMEBOL acknowledged the mistake in a review, admitting that the VAR did not correctly assess whether the defending player touched the ball first, overturning the initial decision. This error sparked widespread outrage in Brazil, as it directly impacted the team’s qualification for the quarterfinals.
