The officiating at the 2024 Copa America has taken center stage in the United States. From controversial video assistant review (VAR) decisions to refereeing mistakes, the tournament’s officials have been under scrutiny.
There are additional factors at play, too. No semi-automated offside, no goal-line technology, no qualms about groups of players surrounding the referee.
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The nature of South American football and the personalities of some of its referees — and players — have always made this tournament a case study in cultural nuance. But at this year’s edition, played outside its home natural home continent on U.S. soil, finger-pointing and national rivalries have infiltrated many of the matches, too.
In South America, the referee assignments for each match become headlines, especially if there’s the potential for conspiracy theories.
Some have argued, for example, that Argentina gets preferential treatment as the holders, reigning world champions and proud beneficiaries of the talent of a certain No 10.
“Anyone can write what they want,” Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said last week. “That’s the world we’re living in. I’d be cautious because of that. They said the same thing about us in Qatar (at the most recent World Cup, in 2022). Normally when you win, the people begin to say that you’re being favored in some way. I don’t see it that way. A referee can make a mistake. It can happen. They’re humans, and it can happen. Even now, with VAR, there are plays that are so tight.”
Chilean referee Piero Maza was assigned to officiate Argentina’s 2-0 win over Canada in the first semifinal on Tuesday night. Argentina was always heavily favored to win the match, but still, the assignment was deemed positive for the champions — even if Argentina and next-door-neighbor Chile aren’t friendly on the football pitch.
Maza last refereed Argentina in a 1-0 win over Brazil in a World Cup qualifier in November. He made his debut as a senior international referee when Argentina defeated Italy 3-0 in the inaugural Finalissima, the one-off match that pits the reigning South American and European champions against each other.
“It might terrorize you if you were told that Argentina was assigned a Chilean referee for a Copa America semifinal,” wrote Argentine outlet Diario Ole. “But if the official is Piero Maza, well, recent history isn’t so bad.”
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In the end, it was Canada head coach Jesse Marsch who appeared to vent his frustration at Maza after he declined to call a foul in the build-up to Argentina’s opener, scored by Julian Alvarez. Marsch squatted to the floor and patted the turf, then pointed at the official after the goal was scored. He then looked less than impressed as he walked off at halftime.
“I’m not gonna comment on the referee,” Marsch said afterwards. “I was OK at halftime. I was just trying to push our guys to be ready for the second half.”
Fans and pundits in Chile and Argentina had also grimaced when South American federation CONMEBOL announced Uruguayan referee Andrés Matonte was assigned to their crucial Group A matchup on June 25.
The Chileans felt a Uruguayan referee would favor Argentina. Those two countries are also neighbors. Argentines, though, view Uruguay as a footballing rival. Argentina and Uruguay each have 15 Copa America titles — more than any other country by far. Any opportunity to sit atop that mountain and look down at a sporting nemesis is highly valued.
During the match, when Lionel Messi earned a soft foul close to Chile’s penalty area, a Chilean reporter shouted: “It’s that Uruguayan referee!”. And after Matonte failed to caution Chile left fullback Gabriel Suazo for a late challenge on Messi, an Argentinian journalist couldn’t hold back his disdain. “This Uruguayan referee is killing us,” he said.
Argentina won 1-0 and Chile would then draw 0-0 with Canada in their final group game. After their subsequent elimination, Chile’s football federation filed a formal complaint with CONMEBOL over the refereeing performance during that game against Canada.
Brazil fell victim to one of the tournament’s most egregious errors against Colombia at the end of the group stage.
Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior was fouled inside the penalty area, but Venezuelan referee Jesus Valenzuela felt that Colombian defender Daniel Muñoz had tapped the ball away first. The VAR official, an Argentine, agreed. No penalty. The game ended 1-1 and Colombia won the group. Brazil finished second, which meant a tough quarterfinal date with tournament contenders Uruguay.
“The Copa America is always difficult because of the pitches, because of the referees who always go against us,” Vinicius Jr said after the Colombia match. “It’s always difficult, but we have to stay strong. We can only talk by winning. When we talk, CONMEBOL says we talk too much.”
“Everything that happened was very strange,” added Brazil head coach Dorival Junior.
A day later, CONMEBOL admitted a penalty should have been awarded. “In a ball dispute inside the box, a defender does not touch the ball and as a result of the dispute, reckless contact is made,” CONMEBOL explained. “The referee fails to see the action and lets the game continue. Given this, the VAR incorrectly confirmed the original field decision.”
CONMEBOL then assigned Argentine referee Dario Herrera to the Brazil-Uruguay quarterfinal. Uruguay won after a penalty shootout in a game that produced 41 fouls and a red card but no goals. Herrera allowed the Uruguayan players to impose themselves physically and mentally.
GO DEEPER
How Copa America turned the tactical foul into an art form
In South America, young players are taught to approach a referee with their hands behind their back, avoiding any sort of gesture that could be misinterpreted: be respectful but make your case heard. But from club football matches to international tournaments, players can push the limits of respectability.
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They’ll surround a referee to plead their case if a call goes against them. Before the VAR era, arguing with the referee was simply a way to demonstrate frustration. Today, it’s an opportunity to sway a decision and convince them to review a play.
Yet referees in South America are referred to as “jueces” or “judges”. Instead of a gavel, they use high-pitched whistles to maintain order.
The term “juez” is meant to respect the authority of a referee.
That obviously isn’t always the case.
(Top photo: Omar Vega/Getty Images)
