During the recent clash between Juventus and Lazio, a crucial incident occurred, overlooked by the referee and the VAR officials. This situation raises questions about the effectiveness of technology and its application on the field. The details of this controversial event deserve particular attention.
On-field Incident: Douglas Luiz and Patric
During the match, a replay highlights the scene where Douglas Luiz delivered a punch to Patric from behind, who then fell to the ground. This act of violence sadly went unnoticed by both the match referee, Sacchi, and the VAR officials. This omission has raised questions about the VAR system’s ability to handle major incidents during a match.
It is crucial to note that the VAR, intended to ensure greater fairness in football, did not intervene despite the clarity of the footage. This situation raises concerns regarding the consistency of refereeing decisions and demonstrates a certain lack of uniformity in the application of the rules.
Reactions and Criticism Regarding VAR
After the match, the reaction of Angelo Fabiani, sporting director of Lazio, highlighted the dissatisfaction caused by this incident. According to his statements, there is a feeling of frustration concerning the VAR’s lack of responsiveness: “Douglas Luiz punches Patric, but the VAR does not intervene. Yet, the images are available,” he asserted. He also pointed out another incident where Douglas committed a foul, which was also ignored by the VAR, questioning the effectiveness of this technology in managing fouls on the field.
Fabiani was very critical of the application of VAR, stating that “if this is how VAR operates, we should consider collective action to abolish it.” He believes that these biased incidents affect not only his team but also the integrity of football as a whole.
Perspectives for the Future of VAR
In light of these controversies, discussions about the future of VAR are open. Fabiani suggests that allowing the discretion of the referee on the field might be more beneficial. Concerns about the potential introduction of challenge systems, such as on-demand VAR, could complicate matches further instead of simplifying them. The risk is that it could significantly prolong the duration of matches, which is undesirable for both players and spectators.
As the debates over the relevance of VAR continue, the question remains: how can we ensure better application of the rules to preserve the integrity of the game? Incidents like this raise the need to reform the use of technology in football.
Source : www.corriere.it