"Exaggerated": South African coach criticizes Wilton Pereira Sampaio's performance
Belgian Hugo Broos, coach of South Africa, criticized the performance of Brazilian referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio in the 2-0 defeat to Mexico, in the opening of the World Cup, this Thursday, at the Azteca Stadium, in Mexico City. The coach considered the expulsion of striker Themba Zwane, in the 39th minute of the second half, exaggerated.
Zwane was the second South African athlete sent off in the match. In the 39th minute of the second half, Wilton Pereira Sampaio appealed to VAR to review an attack by the attacker on Roberto Alvarado. After analyzing the move on the monitor, the referee issued a red card to the African player. At that moment, Mexico was already winning 2-0.
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Raul Jimenez scores the second for Mexico - Carl Recine/Getty Images
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At the opening of the World Cup, Julian Quinones opens the scoring for Mexico - Carl Recine/Getty Images
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Wilton Sampaio sends off South Africa's Sphephelo Sithole after fouling a Mexican player - Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Julian Quinones celebrates - Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Foul that led to Sphephelo Sithole being sent off - Luke Hales/Getty Images)
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Julian Quinones opens the scoring for Mexico - Luke Hales/Getty Images
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Mexico x South Africa, at the opening of the 2026 World Cup - Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Brian Gutierrez at Mexico's World Cup debut - Photo: Carl Recine/Getty Images
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A fan displays a giant replica of the World Cup trophy outside the Azteca Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico June 11, 2026 REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach - REUTERS
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Mexico fans at the Azteca Stadium - Juancho Torres/Anadolu via Getty Images
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Guillermo Ochoa, Mexico's number 13, arrives before the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A match between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City Stadium on June 11, 2026, in Mexico City - Luke Hales/Getty Images
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Shirt of Raul Jimenez, Mexico player - Photo: Ryan Pierse - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Previously, midfielder Sphephelo Sithole had been sent off five minutes into the final stage for interrupting a Mexican counterattack. In stoppage time, defender César Montes, from Mexico, also received a red card after committing a foul during a defensive cover.
It's not nice to have two players getting a red card in the first game of the World Cup. The first card is understandable, but the second happened after a block by the Mexican player on my athlete. It was the referee's decision, but an exaggerated decision, and we must accept it.
Hugro Broos, South Africa coach
By handing out three red cards, a record for the opening games of the tournament, the referee left the World Cup just one expulsion away from equaling the total recorded in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which totaled just four red cards in the entire competition.
A member of Group A, South Africa returns to the field next Thursday (18), at 1 pm (Brasília time), against the Czech Republic, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in Atlanta, in the United States.
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Source: CNN