The Brazilian official will referee the opening leg of the Argentina series in the quarterfinals.
The first leg between Mouth and River for the quarterfinals of the Libertadores Cup 2023 already has its official list of referees. The appointment is entirely Brazilian, with Wilton Sampaio in charge of the whistle. He is a veteran referee who has also sparked debate during his career.
CONTROVERSY IN THE MOUTH VS. RIVER
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One of the most debated performances came during a Superclásico in the 2019 Copa Libertadores semifinals. In the second leg, Sampaio was the central figure in a series of crucial calls that drew heavy scrutiny. Boca Juniors was eliminated that night, and the number of penalties he awarded, along with their outcomes, became a hot topic among fans and pundits alike. In total, he blew 25 fouls and 13 of those decisions were met with strong disagreement.
MESSI VS. SAMPAIO
The Brazilian ref also found himself at the center of a clash with Lionel Messi. After a 1-0 win over Peru in the South American qualifiers, Messi posted on social media and suggested the referee had a pattern in his decisions, implying bias in some calls.
HIS CAREER
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Sampaio directed his first match in the Brazilian league on May 17, 2009, a 2-2 draw between Sao Paulo and Atlético Paranaense. He was recognized as one of the top referees in that season and earned FIFA status in early 2013. That same year he oversaw his first CONMEBOL match in the Copa Libertadores, a 2-0 Sao Paulo victory over Atletico Mineiro. He also officiated a South American Sub 15 match in 2013.
In 2015 he presided a South American Sub 17 contest and in 2016 marked his debut in the South American qualifiers, officiating in Bolivia during a match that ended 2-3 with Colombia. He whistled the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana between Santa Fe and River, which finished 0-0. Across his career, he has been part of five World Cup qualifying campaigns in Russia, including Argentina drawing 0-0 with Peru at the Monumental in October 2017.
He was present at the Club World Cup, directing the semifinal between Real Madrid and Kashima Antlers. During the 2019 Copa América, he oversaw a Group B match between Paraguay and Argentina that concluded in a 1-1 draw. In the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, he officiated four games including group stage clashes and a quarterfinal between England and France.
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Citation: Goal