Official Notices
Official note
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After the return from the World Cup, the debate about refereeing has once again taken center stage in Brazilian football. And this is no coincidence.
In recent years, the perception that a certain club has been repeatedly favored by refereeing decisions has become consolidated among fans, football professionals, and a significant portion of public opinion. This perception does not stem solely from sporting rivalry; it is also supported by statistics.
A survey by the Statistical Spy, from ge, shows that, since the implementation of the VAR ranking in 2020, until the 2026 Brazilian Championship, Palmeiras has accumulated the highest number of decisions changed in its favor (65), the lowest number of decisions against it among the main clubs in the country (47), and the highest positive balance in Brazilian football (+18). It also leads in the total number of VAR interventions.
The statistics for this edition of the Brasileirão follow the same trend. Palmeiras is the 5th team that needs to commit the most fouls to receive a yellow card (6,72 fouls per warning), while its opponents are among those who receive the most yellow and red cards when facing them.
No single piece of data proves favoritism. But statistics accumulated over seven seasons help explain why this debate persists and remains a topic of discussion for everyone involved in football.
The behavior adopted on and off the field also deserves reflection. It has become common to see players and coaching staff surrounding referees, complaining ostentatiously and portraying themselves as victims even after obvious fouls or even a simple throw-in. A studied and coordinated action.
It is important to acknowledge the investments made by the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) and the progress made by the Arbitration Commission, with training, dissemination of VAR audio, and implementation of new technologies. However, these technologies are not the ones that enforce the rules that ultimately decide matches. In the match between Vitória and Palmeiras, for example, the decisions were made by Alex Gomes Stefano on the field and Marco Aurélio Augusto Fazekas Ferreira in the VAR room.
It is the referees who interpret the plays, apply the rules, and make decisions capable of altering standings, influencing title races, qualifying spots, and relegations. Therefore, they also need to be held accountable when they commit serious errors, when they are passive in the face of pressure, even during throw-ins, and when they fail to curb systematic misconduct, as the rules dictate. The recent World Cup showed the way; referees and athletes who were there, many of them playing in Brazil, acted according to the rule of "fair play," and they should do the same here.
Brazilian football needs to return to discussing the game itself rather than the refereeing. This will only be possible when referees adopt clear criteria and stop rewarding teams that use pressure throughout the game as a strategy. The rules must be followed by everyone, including the referees.
Football is passion and a big business. Therefore, it needs trust from those responsible for enforcing the rules of the game.
In recent years, the perception that a certain club has been repeatedly favored by refereeing decisions has become consolidated among fans, football professionals, and a significant portion of public opinion. This perception does not stem solely from sporting rivalry; it is also supported by statistics.
A survey by the Statistical Spy, from ge, shows that, since the implementation of the VAR ranking in 2020, until the 2026 Brazilian Championship, Palmeiras has accumulated the highest number of decisions changed in its favor (65), the lowest number of decisions against it among the main clubs in the country (47), and the highest positive balance in Brazilian football (+18). It also leads in the total number of VAR interventions.
The statistics for this edition of the Brasileirão follow the same trend. Palmeiras is the 5th team that needs to commit the most fouls to receive a yellow card (6,72 fouls per warning), while its opponents are among those who receive the most yellow and red cards when facing them.
No single piece of data proves favoritism. But statistics accumulated over seven seasons help explain why this debate persists and remains a topic of discussion for everyone involved in football.
The behavior adopted on and off the field also deserves reflection. It has become common to see players and coaching staff surrounding referees, complaining ostentatiously and portraying themselves as victims even after obvious fouls or even a simple throw-in. A studied and coordinated action.
It is important to acknowledge the investments made by the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) and the progress made by the Arbitration Commission, with training, dissemination of VAR audio, and implementation of new technologies. However, these technologies are not the ones that enforce the rules that ultimately decide matches. In the match between Vitória and Palmeiras, for example, the decisions were made by Alex Gomes Stefano on the field and Marco Aurélio Augusto Fazekas Ferreira in the VAR room.
It is the referees who interpret the plays, apply the rules, and make decisions capable of altering standings, influencing title races, qualifying spots, and relegations. Therefore, they also need to be held accountable when they commit serious errors, when they are passive in the face of pressure, even during throw-ins, and when they fail to curb systematic misconduct, as the rules dictate. The recent World Cup showed the way; referees and athletes who were there, many of them playing in Brazil, acted according to the rule of "fair play," and they should do the same here.
Brazilian football needs to return to discussing the game itself rather than the refereeing. This will only be possible when referees adopt clear criteria and stop rewarding teams that use pressure throughout the game as a strategy. The rules must be followed by everyone, including the referees.
Football is passion and a big business. Therefore, it needs trust from those responsible for enforcing the rules of the game.
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