Brazil finish World Cup qualifying with loss to Bolivia as CBF president blasts referees, police and ball boys
Selecao lose 1-0 in El Alto, end campaign with lowest-ever points total as CBF accuses match officials and stadium staff of 'anti-game'
Brazil ended their South American World Cup qualifying campaign with a 1-0 defeat by Bolivia in El Alto on Tuesday, a result that left the Brazilian Football Confederation president accusing referees, police and ball boys of undermining the match.
Bolivia scored from a penalty awarded on the stroke of half time after Bruno Guimarães was ruled to have committed a foul, and the hosts celebrated at 4,100 metres of altitude as Brazil failed to find a way back despite second-half substitutions. Brazil had already secured a place at next year's expanded World Cup and will be seeded at the finals because of their FIFA ranking, but the loss capped a qualifying run that produced the lowest points tally in the nation's history.
Samir Xaud, president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, described the contest as "anti-game" and said Brazil faced more than their opponents. "We came to play football, and what we saw from the moment we arrived was completely anti-game. Even at this altitude we played against referees, against the police, and against the ball boys," he told Globo. Xaud said security forces were "brutal" toward the Brazilian delegation and called on CONMEBOL to review the recorded incidents.
Rodrigo Caetano, Brazil's general coordinator, echoed the criticism and said the match had resembled "a different sport," while acknowledging Bolivia's merits on the night and admitting the Selecao must improve their football. The specific flashpoint cited by Brazilian officials involved multiple balls being taken off the field and thrown back in, which disrupted Brazil's attempts to build attacks late in the match and forced stoppages.
Carlo Ancelotti, who took charge of Brazil this season after the team went through three different coaches earlier in the qualifying cycle, introduced Marquinhos, Raphinha and teenage forward Estevão in chase of an equaliser. The visitors looked drained at altitude, created little of note and were unable to overturn the deficit.
Brazil finished the 18-match qualifying campaign with 28 points from eight wins, four draws and six defeats — their lowest total since the CONMEBOL qualifying format was established and the first time the Selecao have ended below 30 points. Under the expanded 48-team World Cup format, South America has six automatic spots, a change that meant Brazil's fifth-place finish did not require an intercontinental playoff.
Bolivia's victory not only earned a win in front of their home fans but, by tournament permutation, secured them a place in next year's intercontinental playoff, extending the significance of the result for the hosts.
Brazilian officials said they had video evidence of the incidents they complained about and urged regional organisers to take action. CONMEBOL has not issued an immediate response to the allegations.
The match renewed questions about Brazil's preparation at altitude and the defensive frailties that surfaced intermittently through the campaign. While qualification for the finals removes the immediate pressure of a playoff, the result and the nature of the complaints leave selection and tactical questions for Ancelotti's management to address ahead of the World Cup.
Bolivia celebrated a landmark home victory under challenging conditions for visiting teams, while the Selecao and their governing body left El Alto citing procedural and officiating grievances that they say will be taken up with confederation authorities.