Ramon Diaz questioned the presence of a woman as a VAR referee of a first division match before retracting his statement. Diaz apologized to reporters minutes later and said his statement, considered "macho" by several local media outlets and on social media, had been misinterpreted.
Vasco da Gama regretted his coach's comments and reaffirmed "his commitment to strengthening the necessary educational measures in accordance with his determinations, values, and principles. "We apologize, as does our coach," it was written on Vasco's social media accounts after Diaz's comments were widely condemned as "macho" and "disgusting." The statement sparked controversy in Brazil, with some calling Diaz a "chauffeur' and others saying he was "trying to be macho" in his criticism of video refereeing. The statement was made after Vasco's defeat against Bragantino 2-1 in the Brazilian championship.