Palmeiras released an official statement on Monday evening, asserting that the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) acknowledged the refereeing mistake during their match against Remo the previous day. The club contests the disallowed goal scored by defender Bruno Fuchs in the 1-1 draw in the Brasileirão — on that occasion, referee Rafael Rodrigo Klein judged that Flaco López had handled the ball prior to his teammate netting.
The statement references a meeting held Monday with representatives from Serie A clubs and the CBF Refereeing Commission. According to Palmeiras, the commission’s professionals admitted the error concerning what would have been the team’s second goal.
Bruno Fuchs indeed scored, but the play was overturned after a VAR review for a handball by Flaco López, occurring in second-half stoppage time. Palmeiras also denies having requested any sanctions against the officiating crew. The club states it understands “that all professionals are susceptible to mistakes,” noting that football director Anderson Barros merely demanded measures to prevent serious errors from recurring.
In its statement, Palmeiras again references the case of referee Ramon Abatti Abel, calling for “reflection.” The text recalls that the official from the São Paulo 2 x 3 Palmeiras match (2025 Brasileirão) was “severely penalized by the CBF and STJD” and criticizes the adoption of “simplistic solutions” to appease third parties.
**Full Statement from Palmeiras:**
*”Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras informs that, in a meeting held this Monday (11) with participation from representatives of other Serie A clubs, the CBF Refereeing Commission acknowledged the error committed by the officiating team in disallowing the goal scored by defender Bruno Fuchs in second-half stoppage time against Remo in the Brazilian Championship. During the meeting, Palmeiras — represented by football director Anderson Barros — reiterated the demand for measures to prevent serious errors like this from recurring, warning that they risk compromising the competition’s credibility.*
*The club emphasizes that it never requested sanctions against the center referee or VAR, as it understands that all professionals, including the best, are susceptible to mistakes. Moreover, it is not for Palmeiras, nor any other club, to interfere in CBF decisions — especially given the important investments the CBF has made to improve Brazilian refereeing.*
*Against this backdrop, it is essential to reflect on the treatment given to referee Ramon Abatti Abel, who was severely penalized by the CBF and STJD a few months ago due to incidents in the São Paulo vs. Palmeiras classic, also in the Brasileirão. Simplistic solutions adopted only to provide momentary satisfaction to external parties will not contribute to the evolution of refereeing and national football.”*
**The Controversial Play**
In the 49th minute, Flaco López was in an aerial duel with a Remo defender — the ball struck the Argentine’s hand and fell to Bruno Fuchs, who scored. Referee Rafael Rodrigo Klein initially awarded the goal but was called to the monitor by VAR and disallowed it, citing a “sanctionable handball.” He explained: *”There is a hand. The ball falls to the white-shirted player who scores. I am disallowing the goal with an indirect free kick for a sanctionable handball, okay?”*
After the match, Bruno Fuchs and director Anderson Barros criticized the decision, arguing that the ball striking Flaco López’s hand before the goal should not invalidate it. The incident was reviewed by six former referees.