This Thursday, June 20, will mark the beginning of a new edition of the America Cup. The next day, an exciting meeting will take place that arouses great expectations due to the intense rivalry and history that both countries share. Peru and Chile will face each other in the first match of group A. A very special match for the Peruvian team since it will debut against Ricardo Gareca, its former coach.
Everything is getting ready to enjoy the long-awaited ‘Pacific Classic’. Although both teams have new coaches, in the last matches Chili has shown greater solidity under the technical direction of Ricardo Gareca. Recently, it was revealed who will be the referee who will impose justice in the Peru match.
Who will be the match for Peru vs. Chile for the Copa América 2024?
The CONMEBOL Referees Commission has announced the referees who will be in charge of directing the first date of the Copa America 2024. On this occasion, the Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio has been selected to direct the exciting match between the teams of Peru and Chile.
In addition, Rodolpho Toski and Daniel Nobre will be responsible for operating the VAR system during the match. This news has been received mixed by Peruvian fans. And Sampaio has a negative record with the peruvian team and, in the past, he has been criticized by Lionel Messi.
Lionel Messi’s criticism of the Peru vs. referee Chili
In 2021, for the Qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the Argentine team defeated Peru 1-0 at the Monumental stadium in River Plate in a match valid for date 12. The referee in charge of the match was the Brazilian Wilton Sampaio, who had previously aimed at the albiceleste.
After the 1-0 victory against Peru, Lionel Messi harshly criticized the referee on his Instagram account. “Tough match, difficult to play. A lot of wind, all of them behind, leaving few spaces. The referee always does the same thing when he directs us, it seems like he does it on purpose. But well, 3 important points that bring us closer to the goal,” judged the superstar Argentina.
Wilton Sampaio’s negative record with Peru
In 2017, during the Russia 2018 Qualifiers, the Peruvian team drew 0-0 against Argentina in Buenos Aires, a result that helped Peru qualify for the World Cup. That night, referee Wilton delivered justice.
However, history took a negative turn for the Peruvian team on the road to Qatar 2022. On that occasion, the numbers were not favorable in the matches directed by the Brazilian referee. In the first match of the qualifiers against Colombia in Lima, the ‘coffee growers’ beat us decisively 0-3, with the expulsion of Miguel Trauco as part of the match, a bad omen for the 40-year-old judge.
The third game under the direction of Wilton Sampaio was again against Argentina in Buenos Aires. Peru was looking to repeat the feat of 2017, but this time the result was not on our side with the goal by Lautaro Martínez and the penalty missed by Yoshimar Yotún. Finally, in the confrontation between Peru and Ecuador on February 1, 2022, which ended in a 1-1 draw, Wilton Sampaio was again the referee in said match.
