Brazil protests VAR call after Scotland win, citing a Messi precedent

Brazil secured top spot in its group at the 2026 World Cup with a 3-0 win over Scotland in Miami, following a 1-1 draw with Morocco and a convincing victory over Haiti. Vinicius Junior scored twice and Matheus Cunha added the third, sending Brazil into the round of 32. Despite the result, Carlo Ancelotti was unhappy with the officiating, and a first-half Vinicius goal was disallowed after a VAR review for a foul on Jack Hendry.

The overturned goal angered Vinicius, who had thought he had doubled Brazil’s lead, but Ancelotti was even more furious. After Vinicius made it 2-0 early in the second half, reports said the coach shouted at the fourth official: “Cancel that one too, you son of a b****.”

Brazil has now lodged a complaint with FIFA over the disallowed goal, according to the Brazilian newspaper Estadao. In its statement, the Brazilian federation said the tournament had shown a clear preference for respecting the referee’s on-field judgment and limiting VAR to “clear and obvious” errors. It argued that the Scotland decision in the 21st minute did not fit that approach, and said even Scotland’s players seemed surprised the goal was reviewed and cancelled.

The complaint also cited a Messi goal for Argentina as a comparison. According to TyC Sports, Brazil pointed to the goal Messi scored against Austria, when Alexis Mac Allister’s challenge on Xaver Schlager in the buildup was ultimately not punished. Brazil said that if Messi’s goal stood, Vinicius’s should have as well, and it also criticized the appointment of Cesar Arturo Ramos, whom Brazil had previously complained about after a 1-1 draw with Switzerland at the 2018 World Cup. Brazil’s next match is a round-of-16 game against Japan in Houston on Monday, June 29.