"Back knock" and "inconclusive": VAR review of Corinthians v Athletico-PR

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Central do Timão

·11 de septiembre de 2025

"Back knock" and "inconclusive": VAR review of Corinthians v Athletico-PR

By Vinícios Cotrim | Central do Timão Editorial Team

Corinthians and Athletico-PR faced each other on the evening of last Wednesday, the 10th, in the second leg of the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals. After the final whistle, the CBF released images and audio of the VAR analysis during the match, which began working in the first half on a goal that was disallowed due to a foul by a Furacão player.

“For me, there’s a push, but it’s still within the play, ok? For me, there’s no impact for him to fall, ok?” said referee Davi De Oliveira Lacerda before reviewing the play. In the video room, Diego Pombo Lopez replied: “There’s contact on the back, which is clearly a foul on the opponent. It’s not on the side, it’s on the back. I recommend a review for a possible foul, with a push on the back.”

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Photo: Reproduction/CBF TV

After analyzing the play in the booth with the team, the field referee decided to overturn the decision, stating that “it was clear the push was on the back.” Thus, the score remained 0 x 0 between Corinthians and Athletico-PR at that point.

In the second half, when the People’s Team was already winning the match, the refereeing team detected a penalty for the visiting club, which generated controversy among the fans. Besides the debate over whether the play warranted a penalty, it was also inconclusive whether the contact happened inside the box.

“The images are not conclusive… I feel like the ball is outside, but the images are not conclusive. Davi (field referee), the situation is very close and I need you to come help me evaluate. Because the play is not conclusive,” said the video referee during the analysis.

After reviewing it in the booth, the field referee decided to uphold the decision. “I don’t have a conclusive angle, I have the on-field marking, so I will keep the on-field decision, ok?” Despite the penalty awarded, Hugo Souza did his job well and saved the shot, keeping the People’s Team’s goal unbreached until the final whistle.