Former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimović has criticized a refereeing decision during the 1-1 draw between Morocco and Brazil, expressing surprise that Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi was not sanctioned following a challenge on Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior shortly before halftime.
Speaking as a pundit on Fox Sports, Ibrahimovic said the incident warranted intervention from the referee, arguing that player safety should remain the primary consideration in such situations, regardless of the players involved or the context of the match.
According to Ibrahimovic, Hakimi’s challenge came after Vinícius had already moved past his opponent and carried a degree of risk that should have been assessed more seriously by the match officials.
He also criticized what he described as a lack of consistency in refereeing decisions, noting that similar incidents are sometimes punished with yellow or red cards, while others go unpunished.
“The inconsistency creates confusion for both players and supporters,” Ibrahimovic suggested, emphasizing the importance of applying the laws of the game uniformly.
The former striker further argued that referees should focus on evaluating the action itself and the potential danger it poses rather than judging incidents solely on their outcome or on a player’s intentions.
The challenge has since become one of the most discussed moments from Morocco’s opening World Cup match against Brazil, with opinions divided over whether disciplinary action should have been taken.
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