Red and White Outrage! VAR and the Controversial Decision in Champions League
Atlético de Madrid’s recent elimination in the Champions League round of 16 has left a bitter taste for the Colchoneros fans, especially due to the controversial VAR decision to disallow Julián Álvarez’s goal in the penalty shootout.
VAR assistant Tomasz Kwiatkowski argued a double touch in the execution due to a slip, an interpretation that has not convinced many, considering the difficulty in clearly appreciating the action in the replays.
The speed with which the decision was made, contrasting with the slowness in other more obvious plays, has generated outrage among the Red and White supporters and other European football fans. Many remember similar precedents in which action was not taken in the same way.
The penalty taken by Messi in the World Cup final in Qatar, where there was also apparently a double touch, was not reviewed and Argentina ended up winning. Another recent example is the Copa del Rey final between Mallorca and Athletic Club, where in the launch of Mikel Vesga, after a slip, the play was not reviewed.
These precedents fuel the controversy and question the consistency in the application of VAR. Kwiatkowski’s decision and the lack of consultation of the monitor by the referee Marciniak have unleashed a debate that promises to continue. Atlético de Madrid fans feel harmed and call for greater transparency and consistency in the use of technology in football.
