Controversy surrounded the 0-0 draw between Pepper And Canada during the third and final date of Group A of Copa America 2024. In the match, the referee Wilmar Roldan decided not to send off Canadian Moïse Bombito after he elbowed the footballer from the 'red', Rodrigo Echeverriaa determination that has sparked controversy.

Subsequently, the Conmebol released a video showing the conversation between the VAR officials and the referee on the field of play in which a voiceover was captured admitting that Bombito should have been sent off, which could have changed the course of the match and prevented the premature elimination of the team led by Ricardo Gareca.

During the game, the decision of Roland This allowed Bombito to continue on the pitch, thus affecting Chile's chances in the continental competition. “In the 4th minute, during a corner kick, while the ball was not in play, a white attacker hit the red and blue player in the face with his elbow, which constitutes violent behavior and therefore a red card. The referee does not take any disciplinary action for this action. He VAR and their protocol verification, which looks at angles and speeds, fails to identify violent behavior and incorrectly confirms the decision on the ground,” they said.

Already in the video we hear that the VAR assistant, Yadir Acuñawarns of the fall of Rodrigo Echeverría: “One has fallen,” he exclaimed. To whom the head of the VAR, Armando Villarrealasks you to reverse the action.

When Bombito's elbow against the Chilean midfielder is shown, the fourth official, Jhon Ospina, indicates that he did indeed put his arm in front of his face, but without the intention of attacking him: “It wasn't meant to hit.”. Then, Wilmar Roldán shares his partner's opinion: “He puts his arm like that, nothing more”. Finally, Villarreal decides to continue the match: “Wilmar, you can start again.”he condemned.

THE Federation of Chile filed a complaint against Conmebol for the refereeing that had harmed him in his three Copa América group stage matches and requested the indefinite suspension of Wilmar Roldan. However, the Colombian would not be the only one asking for a sanction, since he also demanded the VAR audios of the entire match, in order to identify more responsible parties and proceed in the same way against them:

“THE FFCh request a copy of all audios from the VAR of the entire match, in order to determine if there were others responsible for today's disastrous refereeing, so that they receive the maximum corresponding sanctions. Chile has been arbitrarily eliminated from the Copa América 2024,” concludes its statement.

Pablo MiladPresident of the Chilean Federation, was mortified by Roldán's refereeing, as it is not the first time he has hurt them, and assured that, after his complaint, he will never again officiate a match of the 'red' :

“If they had charged what they were supposed to charge, it would have been different. We have a history with Wilmar Roldan. After the games are over, it is difficult to say anything, but you have to leave a testimony. It is something real, analytical. It is not the first time that this has happened to us with Roldán. I am going to talk to the referee, that man always does the same thing to us. Let's suppose that this referee will never take us to a game again. I have held back, it is very frustrating. The boys are becoming conditioned. The second yellow is non-existent, the second is doubtful, it is a crash and the VAR charges it. I say this because the referee had not charged it, it was retroactive. That they charge us a yellow card through the VAR, that has never happened,” he added.