💣 Hojlund elbows Ferguson: should have seen red, VAR intimidated 😱 | OneFootball

As usual, Tuesday is the day for Open VAR, the regular appointment on DAZN with behind-the-scenes insights and analysis of the referees’ performances in the latest round of the league.

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Referee chief Gianluca Rocchi analyzed the eleventh matchday of Serie A and in particular focused on the incident that occurred during Bologna-Napoli, with Rasmus Hojlund’s elbow to Lewis Ferguson. 

Open VAR played the communications between the referee and the VAR room and commented on the referee’s decision.

🟥 “Hojlund should have been sent off”

During Open VAR, analyzing Hojlund’s elbow to Ferguson, Rocchi had no doubts:

“For us, it’s a red card, that attitude is absolutely unacceptable.”

According to the chief referee, the Napoli striker should have been sent off for violent conduct.

“In this case, intensity should not be considered, the player must not have this kind of attitude.”

💥 Ferguson also criticized

Rocchi also criticized Ferguson’s behavior, stating that the player deserved a yellow card for provoking his opponent and then exaggerating the impact of the blow he received.

"Ferguson should have been booked for simulating a blow to the face when he was actually hit in the ribs, and Hojlund should have been sent off for the elbow. And perhaps it was precisely the attitude of the Bologna player that intimidated the VAR."

🗣️ The referee and VAR dialogue

Open VAR also revealed the conversation between VAR Meraviglia and AVAR Massa.

He touches his face, but he wasn’t hit in the face. He was hit in the ribs." 

Then the communication to referee Chiffi: 

"I confirm the yellow card for Hojlund. Ferguson holds him from the ground, then he slaps him. Medium intensity and to the ribs, but all due to the defender’s initial hold. The one who suffers holds his face, but the blow is to the ribs."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

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