VAR to the Rescue at the Metropolitano: Two Key Penalties
Atlético de Madrid experienced an intense match at the Metropolitano, marked by two crucial VAR interventions that proved decisive in the course of the game. Referee Díaz de Mera, after being alerted from the VOR room by Figueroa Vázquez, had to review two controversial plays on the monitor, which ended up being awarded as penalties.
The first review occurred after a corner kick, where it was considered that Lenglet had committed a handball when clearing the ball with his arm in an unnatural position.
After analyzing the images from several angles, the referee from Castilla-La Mancha did not hesitate to award a penalty in favor of the visitors, who took the lead. Just five minutes later, VAR was once again in the spotlight after a challenge on Giuliano Simeone.
Díaz de Mera was alerted to a possible penalty for a stamp by Javier Sánchez. After repeatedly viewing the images, the referee determined that an infraction had occurred and awarded the second penalty of the night, this time in favor of Atlético.
Julián Alvárez was in charge of converting it, thus restoring equality on the scoreboard. In short, an afternoon where technology played a fundamental role in the final result, demonstrating once again its influence on modern football and the importance of having tools that help to deliver justice on the field.
