Brazil captain Raphinha has voiced his anger over the refereeing after his side suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Japan, arguing that competing against both the opposition and the referee made the match considerably more difficult. Although he acknowledged signs of progress in Brazil’s performances since the World Cup, the forward was particularly unhappy with several decisions made during the contest.
Japan stunned the five-time world champions with two goals inside the opening 20 minutes at the Singapore National Stadium. Brazil initially struggled to contain their opponents but gradually regained control and fought their way back into the match.
Vinícius Júnior scored twice to bring Brazil level, raising hopes of a comeback victory. However, Japan had the final say when Tatsuhito Sakamoto scored the decisive goal in the first minute of stoppage time, securing a 3-2 victory.
The winning goal quickly became the centre of controversy, with Brazil’s players and coaching staff questioning whether Japan should have been allowed to continue the attack.
Speaking after the match, Raphinha, who captained Brazil on the occasion, acknowledged the team’s improvement while expressing his disappointment with the standard of officiating.
“Since the World Cup, we have been improving and trying to find our style of play. I think we played really well. We were much better in the second half than in the first. But it becomes difficult when you have to play against the referee. Everything becomes more complicated,” he said.
Despite his criticism, Raphinha was careful not to attribute the entire defeat to the referee. He admitted that Brazil still had several weaknesses to address and that the players needed to take responsibility for their performance.
“I am not saying that we have no responsibility. There are many areas where we need to improve, and we will do so. But we cannot ignore the refereeing in today’s match,” he added.
The frustration over the officials became particularly evident during the closing stages. Raphinha had already left the pitch in the 71st minute, making way for Endrick, but remained involved in the heated exchanges from the sidelines.
The decisive incident occurred in stoppage time. During a contest for possession, Japan’s Takumi Minamino became involved in a challenge with Brazilian midfielder João Gomes. Brazil’s players and members of the coaching staff believed Minamino had committed a foul during the encounter.
Singaporean referee Jansen Foo Chuan Hui, however, allowed play to continue. Japan capitalised on the situation, with Sakamoto finding the net to put his side ahead. Brazil immediately protested, insisting that the goal should not have stood.
The incident was subsequently reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), but the original decision remained unchanged and Japan’s goal was allowed to stand.
Raphinha and Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti were particularly unhappy with the ruling. Both left the technical area and entered the pitch to challenge the referee’s decision. As tensions escalated, the referee showed red cards to both Raphinha and Ancelotti.
Raphinha’s complaints were not limited to Japan’s winning goal. He also questioned the officiating in two earlier situations, including an alleged handball in the build-up to Japan’s opening goal and a penalty appeal involving Brazil during the first half.
The forward believed these incidents formed part of a series of decisions that had gone against his team. For him, the defeat was made even more frustrating by the feeling that several important moments had not been handled fairly.
The result represents a setback for Brazil as they continue their efforts to rebuild the team and establish greater consistency following the World Cup. Their recovery from a two-goal deficit demonstrated attacking resilience, particularly through Vinícius Júnior’s contribution. However, defensive vulnerabilities and the inability to protect the draw ultimately proved costly.
Raphinha’s comments also reflected the challenges facing Brazil as they seek to develop a more settled playing identity. While he recognised that the team must improve its performance, he made it clear that the controversial refereeing decisions should not be overlooked.
For Japan, the victory was a significant achievement against one of international football’s most successful nations. For Brazil, however, the match ended in disappointment, controversy and disciplinary consequences for both their captain and head coach.
