Part 3/6:
The Referee's Decisions Under Scrutiny
The officiating by Wilton Pereira hade been a central topic of discussion post-match. While acknowledging their faults, many commentators felt it was unjust for Palmeiras supporters to use the referee's errors as their primary narrative for the defeat. It was clear that the team should take responsibility for their own failings on the pitch, which included poor defensive positioning that allowed Botafogo to exploit gaps effectively.