Peru have caused a massive yet controversial boilover in the Copa America Centenario, sending South American powerhouse Brazil packing in the opening round.
Needing only to avoid defeat to progress, the Selecao‘s hopes suffered a huge and ultimately fatal hit in the 75th minute. Raul Ruidiaz bundled home a cross, but mass protest followed, with a handball claimed.
Flanked by both teams, the central referee deliberated with his linesman for some time before eventually awarding the goal to the Peruvians. Replays showed the officials had got the decision horribly, horribly wrong, with a hand blatantly used to put the ball in the net. It was reminiscent of the famous ‘hand of god’ incident, famously carried out by Argentine great Diego Maradona.
The goal was enough to seal Brazil’s fate, drawing an outpouring of anger from their fans as well as ridicule from, well, everyone else. Firmly in the firing line was coach Dunga, whose second spell in charge of the global footballing superpower appears under threat.
Here is exactly how the Twitterverse reacted:
Oh my goodness… #CA2016 pic.twitter.com/TDTM4KRy3J
— Outside90 (@Outside90) June 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/troublesomerose/status/742187101362393092
The #BRAvPER ref should refrain from visiting Brazil for the rest of his life. #copaamerica
— (((txtbkEnigma))) (@txtbkEnigma) June 13, 2016
"I pay later" #Copa100 #CopaAmerica #BRAvPER pic.twitter.com/Nc2ViEFu0q
— Luke (@elpols) June 13, 2016
The Peruvian Hand Of God… #BRAvPER
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) June 13, 2016
This is the worst Brazil team of my lifetime, and it's not all that close. #BRAvPER #CopaAmerica
— Matthew Doyle (@MLSAnalyst) June 13, 2016
That was a pile of Dunga from Brazil.
— Hat (@JustDavies90) June 13, 2016
Haven't watched a Brasil game since the disaster that happened in 2014. When dunga gets fired I will again be a fan🙌🏼
— Gaucho (@Garinho_10) June 13, 2016
Dunga took a powerhouse team and made them 💩. Where's Marcelo, Luiz, Neymar, and Silva ?
— luke doyle (@lvdoyle5) June 13, 2016
Dunga should just resign in the post match press conference
— Billy (@Billy_LDN) June 13, 2016
Dunga when coaching Brazil. #Joke #BRAvPER #CopaAmerica #haha #Clowns pic.twitter.com/FryPgbDusm
— Francisco DeLaCerda (@realpacodlc) June 13, 2016
Hard to feel sorry for Brazil. Kept goalless by both Ecuador # Peru. Their football in worse state than their economy. #CopaAmerica #BRAvPER
— Athas Zafiris (@ArtSapphire) June 13, 2016
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