Among the most watched sporting events is the men’s football World Cup, which in 2022 will be held in the Arab nation of Qatar. Unlike the regular World Cups, this will be a tournament played in the winters. However, it isn’t the qualifying process or the fact that it could be the last World Cup for the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, that have dominated conversations.
In fact, soon after Qatar were awarded the hosting rights, there have been continued calls to take the tournament away from them for a variety of reasons.
The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) has suspended Uruguayan referee Andres Cunha and video assistant Esteban Ostojich for "serious errors" in Argentina's home World Cup qualifier against Brazil.
The decision relates to an incident in which Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi struck Brazil forward Raphinha with an elbow to the face during the first half of Tuesday's match in San Juan, which ended in a goalless draw.
The knock left Leeds United's Raphinha with a bloody wound in the mouth that required five stitches at halftime.
In a video released by CONMEBOL on Wednesday, Ostojich is heard telling Cunha that he considered the foul a "yellow-card offense." Despite the recommendation, Cunha opted not to caution Otamendi, nor did he award a free-kick against the Benfica center back, reports Xinhua.
"The performance of the chief referee, Andres Ismael Cunha Soca Vargas, and the [video assistant referee], Esteban Daniel Ostojich Vega ... was technically analyzed by [the referees' committee], which concluded that they committed serious and manifest errors in their duty," read a CONMEBOL statement.
