Brazilian Football Confederation president Samir Xaud has urged the game’s authorities to take action after claiming Brazil “played against” the referee, ball-boys and the police in their World Cup qualifying defeat in Bolivia.
Miguel Terceros’ first-half penalty sealed Bolivia a surprise 1-0 win in El Alto on Tuesday and a place in the qualifying play-offs, while Brazil, under head coach Carlo Ancelotti, had already secured their place at next summer’s World Cup finals.
Xaud told TNT Sports: “It’s sad what happened here today. Since our arrival, what we saw was anti-game, even with this altitude of 4,000 metres.
“We played against the refereeing, we played against the police, we played against the ball boys by taking the balls off the field, pulling the balls, putting balls on the field.
“So, excuse me for the word, but a real ‘floodplain’ today. That’s what we don’t expect for world football, nor for South American football.”
Xaud was critical of referee Cristian Garay and his assistants, saying: “(At 4,000m) it is difficult to play football and even more so playing with 14 men on the field against a national team.
“So, I hope that the South American Football Federation (CONMEBOL) takes action, precisely because we have everything recorded, everything that happened here on the field. And this cannot happen, this is absurd.”
Xaud also complained about the local police, adding: “Truculent police, with the whole team, with the entire coaching staff. So, that’s what we don’t expect.
“We received all the teams in Brazil very well. We embraced the teams, we put everything at their disposal. And when we go to play outside Brazil, especially here, the reception we have here is even absurd.
“My indignation remains and I hope that CONMEBOL takes action. We hope that this does not happen again and we will formalize everything.”
