The decision to Wilmar Roldan do not expel the Canadian Moses Bombito for elbowing him in the face Rodrigo Echeverría during the 0-0 draw between Chile and Canada for date 3 of group A of Copa America 2024was quite controversial, as showing the red card could change the course of the match and prevent those led by Ricardo Gareca from being eliminated prematurely from the continental competition.

Shortly after the engagement, the Conmébol released a video showing the conversation that the VAR officials had with the referees on the field of play. However, before listening to the judges' discussion, a voiceover admits that the Canadian central defender should have been sanctioned with a sending off.

“In the 4th minute, during a corner recovery, while the ball was not in play, a white attacker hits the face of the red and blue player with his elbow, which constitutes violent behavior and therefore a card red. The referee does not take any disciplinary action for this action. He VAR and their protocol check, 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 Acuna, warns of the fall of Rodrigo Echeverría: “One has fallen,” he exclaimed. To whom is the VAR manager, 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 to hit”. Then, Wilmar Roldán shares his partner's opinion: “He puts his arm like that, nothing more.”

Finally, Villarreal makes the decision to continue the match: “Wilmar, you can continue.”he condemned.

There 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 to request a sanction, since he also demanded the VAR audios of the entire match, in order to identify more of those responsible and proceed in the same way against them:

“There FFCh request a copy of all audio 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 will speak 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 become 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.