Zlatan Ibrahimovic has launched a scathing critique of the officiating during Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Morocco, insisting that Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi should have been shown a straight red card for a dangerous studs-up challenge on Vinicius Junior.
The incident occurred during first-half stoppage time of the Group C clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After Vinicius had equalised for Brazil in the 32nd minute, Hakimi—playing on his familiar right flank—caught the Real Madrid winger late on his left ankle with a studs-up stamp as Vinicius accelerated past him down the wing. Remarkably, Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić did not even award a free-kick, let alone a yellow or red card. VAR reviewed the incident but deemed it insufficient to warrant overturning the on-field decision.
Ibrahimovic: “Protection of the Player Comes First”
Speaking as a studio analyst for Fox Sports, the former AC Milan and PSG striker did not hold back.
“When I saw the play, my first reaction was simple: the referee must intervene and send him off,” Ibrahimovic said. “It’s not about reputation or the timing of the game. It’s about the player’s safety. The attacker got past him, the danger was obvious, and the contact came too late.”
Ibrahimovic, now an executive at AC Milan and widely regarded as one of the most outspoken voices in football, argued that a red card before half-time would have fundamentally altered the contest.
“With Morocco down to ten men, Brazil would have had far more opportunities,” he added. “Eleven against eleven, Ancelotti’s side struggled. Morocco were superior in possession but lacked depth going forward.”
The Incident That Left Brazil Fuming
The controversial moment came just before the interval. Vinicius had already beaten Hakimi on the outside and was driving towards the Morocco penalty area when the PSG right-back—late and from behind—planted his studs directly onto the Brazilian’s ankle.
The reaction on social media was instantaneous. “Vinicius was clearly fouled by Hakimi,” wrote one supporter, while another argued the challenge “deserved a red.” Others pointed to apparent contact on Vinicius’ ankle and questioned why VAR remained silent.
Under FIFA’s updated World Cup regulations, VAR can only intervene for potential red cards, penalties, mistaken identity cases, and certain pre-restart fouls. Because the on-field referee did not consider Hakimi’s tackle to constitute “serious foul play,” and VAR did not identify a clear and obvious error, the decision stood.
Referee Under Heavy Fire
Vinčić has faced widespread criticism for his performance. The Spanish refereeing website Archives VAR reportedly awarded the Slovenian official a rating of just 3 out of 10, claiming that Brazil were on the receiving end of several contentious decisions and that Vinčić made multiple judgment errors that frustrated players from both teams.
Many observers noted that the official showed only two yellow cards throughout the entire match—both to Morocco.
No Hard Feelings Between the Players
Remarkably, despite the incident and the heated exchanges on the pitch, there appeared to be no lasting rancour between the two players. After the final whistle, Vinicius and Hakimi were seen exchanging words and sharing smiles. RMC Sport reported that the Real Madrid winger made no official complaint against his PSG opponent.
The two players are close friends off the pitch, having been teammates at Real Madrid before Hakimi’s departure to Inter and then PSG.
What’s Next?
Morocco celebrated a hard-earned point against one of the tournament favourites, keeping their Group C hopes very much alive. Brazil, meanwhile, were left to rue what many believe was a significant refereeing oversight.
With Ibrahimovic now joining a growing chorus of critics questioning the decision, the Hakimi–Vinicius challenge is likely to remain one of the most debated moments of the World Cup’s opening round of fixtures.
The fallout may also prompt questions about the consistency of VAR intervention protocols, particularly regarding challenges that endanger player safety—an issue Ibrahimovic made the centrepiece of his passionate post-match analysis.
