World Cup 2026: Zlatan Ibrahimovic claims Achraf Hakimi should have been sent off against Brazil

The controversy surrounding Morocco’s 1-1 draw with Brazil at the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to grow, with AC Milan legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic becoming the latest high-profile figure to question a key refereeing decision from the match.

Ibrahimovic believes Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi was fortunate to remain on the pitch following a challenge on Brazil forward Vinicius Junior during Sunday’s Group C encounter.

Ibrahimovic Questions Referee’s Decision

Speaking while analysing the match on Fox Sports, the former Sweden international argued that Hakimi’s challenge warranted a straight red card.

According to Ibrahimovic, player safety should have been the priority, regardless of the occasion or the profile of the players involved.

“Hakimi tackled Vinicius’ ankle recklessly with the bottom of his boot… When I saw the footage, my first reaction was simply that the referee should have intervened and sent him off.”

The former striker insisted that the challenge came too late after Vinicius had already beaten his opponent.

“It’s not about reputation or the timing of the match, it’s about the player’s safety. The striker got past him, the danger was clear, and Hakimi’s tackle came too late.”

Referee Comes Under Heavy Scrutiny

Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić has faced significant criticism for his handling of the match, with several observers questioning a number of decisions made throughout the contest.

The Spanish refereeing website Archives VAR was particularly critical of the official’s performance, reportedly awarding him a rating of just 3 out of 10 and claiming that Brazil were on the receiving end of several contentious decisions.

The report stated that Vinčić made multiple judgment errors that frustrated players from both teams during a fiercely contested encounter that ended level.

Hakimi Incident Remains the Main Talking Point

According to the report, the most significant officiating error came during the first half when Hakimi challenged Vinicius Junior.

The website argued that the Moroccan defender’s tackle on the Brazilian attacker warranted a direct red card and criticised both the on-field decision and the lack of intervention from the Video Assistant Referee.

The incident has continued to fuel debate in the aftermath of the match, with critics pointing to the failure to award a foul and the decision not to review the challenge as evidence of what they described as a disappointing refereeing display.

Debate Continues After Brazil Draw

While Morocco celebrated a valuable point against one of the tournament favourites, discussions surrounding the officiating have refused to fade.

With Ibrahimovic now joining the growing list of voices questioning the decision, the challenge involving Hakimi and Vinicius is likely to remain one of the most debated moments from the opening round of matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.