Team Masseur Blocks Game Winning Goal In Brazil To Allow His Team To Advance To Finals

I have previously discussed how I continue to be mystified by how international soccer is managed as with the long resistance to using basic technology to confirm goals. The recent controversy out of Brazil however leaves me stunned by how these rules often ignore the obvious. In this case, the team’s masseur with Aparecidence snuck on to the field and saved a certain score in a semi-final play-off — resulting in Aparacidence winning the game and moving on toward the finals.

The score was 2-2 when the opposing team Tupi moved toward a last minute score. The masseur then ran on the pitch and blocked two goal-bound shots. Notably, none of the officials took any action and the masseur just grabbed his bag and ran from the field (being chased by some of the Tupi team).

Since the game was left as a tie at 2-2, Aparecidence was declared the winner since they were the away team. What is striking is that this was an employee of Aparecidence and not some deranged fan. Since it was clear that it would have been a goal, shouldn’t there be some equitable ruling. Even if they are not going to count the goal, they could at least waive the away team status. It seems that soccer needs a principle of respondeat superior where a team is responsible for the actions of its employees. It is clear from the video below that both kicks would have been scores for Tupi.

What do you think should be done in such circumstances?