Benfica-Alverca penalties spark controversy, Iturralde: "Debatable" | OneFootball

Iturralde González believes there was simulation in the penalty incidents. According to the former referee's analysis, the moments involving Rafa Silva and Leandro Barreiro do not warrant the awarding of a penalty, however, he gave the benefit of the doubt regarding the infraction on Andreas Schjelderup in the first half of the Benfica - Alverca match.

"These are plays where a forward does a lot to fall. They are all open to interpretation, where almost all criteria apply. As I usually say, there are plays where there is no absolute truth", the former Spanish referee began by saying in statements to the newspaper Record.

"It seems like a penalty to me. When the Benfica player goes to the right, the defender does not want to play the ball. What he does is prevent the forward from advancing. If it were a ball dispute, it wouldn't be a foul, but here the defender forgets to play the ball. He just uses his body", pointed out Iturralde González, in contrast to other experts.

"They are not penalties. They are football contacts. The forward is waiting for a slight contact to throw himself", the Spaniard stated, assuring that the two Benfica players, Rafa Silva - who achieved a feat of 21 months - and Leandro Barreiro, did not suffer an infraction.

"The great evil of football and the major problem referees face now are not the hands, nor the aggressive play, but the simulations. Players increasingly simulate being knocked down and seek that slight contact", concluded Iturralde González.

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