There was a problem in the communication between the referee Roddy Zambrano and the video assistant referee (VAR) before the Copa America semi-final between Brazil and Argentina. The frequency of the radio communication between them has suffered an interference in the signal, confirmed by the Local Organizing Committee (LOC). The LOC did not report a reason for the temporary crash of the system. Information obtained by GloboEsporte.com suggests that the blocking of security signals from President Jair Bolsonaro generated interference and communication failure of the VAR - signal frequency interruption commonly used in security operations of authorities, such as heads of state and visits of Pope, for example. Contacted by GloboEsporte.com, the LOC denies that the presidential radio was the reason for cutting the communication with the VAR. The LOC also claims that the problem was corrected before starting.
During the Copa America, VAR's communication radios use a private broadcast frequency for receiving images and audio and for verbal communication between the referee and the VAR room. Before the start of the match between Brazil and Argentina, there were failures of a few seconds in the data and audio network, which was later corrected, as soon as it was diagnosed, with the assistance of the National Telecommunications Agency. Accompanied by a representative of the Local Organizing Committee, they carried out analysis in the stadium and in the area destined for press (tribune). In the bleachers for press professionals radio equipment was identified that, although operating in the 400 MHz band, generated emissions that covered the 900 MHz band. After the location of the cause, the equipment was turned off before the beginning of the match and so it remained throughout the event. Monitoring agents remained in the press stand and in the surroundings of the field during the whole match, carrying out the monitoring of radio frequencies. No further interference problems were reported.
In addition to people involved in the organization of the game, the referees also learned of the problem before the semi-final Brazil – Argentina. Leodan Gonzalez, VAR in this match, did not answer the phone calls and did not respond to the text messages from Globo Esporte. Referee Roddy Zambrano responded briefly: "I hope you understand me; we cannot give interviews”. CONMEBOL confirmed that the issues only occurred before the kick-off, but there were no abnormalities of the VAR system during the match.
