VAR made 1 mistake in controversial Como-Juventus, Empoli-Milan and Torino-Genoa incidents | OneFootball

A representative from Italian referees explained their official views on the controversial VAR incidents in Como-Juventus, Empoli-Milan and Torino-Genoa, confirming one error was made.

As per every Sunday evening, DAZN have their Open VAR show where the footage from the Video Assistant Referees is shown and discussed in the studio with a member of the Referees Association (AIA).

This time it was Elenito Liberatore, who had a lot of situations to cover after a very controversial set of Serie A games, especially ones played on Saturday.

The first was the penalty Como wanted in the closing minutes of their defeat to Juventus when Federico Gatti brushed the ball off the chest of Tasos Douvikas with his fingertips.

“This is absolutely not a punishable handling offence, so the right decision was not to award a penalty,” Di Liberatore told DAZN.

“Gatti was challenging for the space and in that context touched the ball in fortuitous fashion, so it is not punishable.”

There seemed to be some debate even within the VAR booth between the two officials who were evaluating the footage, as while one insisted the touch “took control away” from the Como striker, the other assured it was all part of the “natural dynamics” of the movement.

That discussion continued in the DAZN studio, where the other pundits like Valon Behrami argued this ought to be a penalty because Gatti with his fingertips pushed the ball off the chest of Douvikas when he was clear on goal.

“Obviously there are handballs that are punishable and others that are not punishable. This has been differentiated in recent years because it is not right to penalise a player whose only fault is contending the space with an opponent,” replied Di Liberatore.

The issue many have with this change of rule is that if there is any handball – even if it is clearly unintentional – directly leading to a goal, then that will be disallowed.

However, the player defending is given the benefit of specific evaluation on a case by case basis, which inevitably can lead to a lack of consistency.

VAR evaluation of Milan and Torino complaints

Antonio Sanabria Torino Genoa foul

Di Liberatore was also showed some other controversial situations from the weekend, specifically the Liberato Cacace studs-up tackle that caught Kyle Walker on the side of the shin during Empoli vs. Milan.

While the referee waved play on and did not even give a yellow card, the VAR decided it was insufficient to warrant an On-Field Review for a straight red.

“It is correct for the VAR not to intervene because there was a lack of intensity,” explained Di Liberatore.

“A yellow card would’ve been a correct decision.”

There was more controversy in that match, but in this case it was down to the VAR protocol.

Fikayo Tomori received a second yellow card for a foul on a player who was visibly offside, but as the flag did not go up, VAR could not intervene to correct the error.

“If it had been a straight red card, then yes the VAR could’ve taken action, but as it was a second yellow then the VAR is cut out of the whole situation,” added Di Liberatore.

It is not the first time that the protocol has raised a few eyebrows for its inability to get involved when a second yellow does still reduce a team to 10 men and is based on a clear and obvious error.

Will there be suggestions to change the protocol in future?

“As of today, these are the rules and we are obliged to follow them. There is discussing in the IFAB every year to improve everything that we can, step by step.”

Torino were furious when Antonio Sanabria had his shirt pulled by Stefano Sabelli in the final minute of their draw with Genoa.

This footage was also played with the discussion in the VAR booth, who noted Sanabria “was going backwards anyway and the jersey is tugged, but not a great deal.”

Was this the right decision?

“It was an error from the referee and the VAR,” confessed Di Liberatore.

“We would’ve preferred an On-Field Review and must admit when mistakes are made.”