There is no way. There is no game in which he is present and remains alien to controversy.
But this time the infamous VAR, the assistant video referee, went beyond. Not happy to appear only during regular time and extension, he decided to give the air of his (dis) grace in a penalty shootout.
It was on Wednesday (12), for the round of 16 of the Champions League, in Madrid, in the classic Atletico x Real (always nervous and disputed) that defined those who would remain alive in the competition.
In the first leg, at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, the royal principal won 2-1 the week before. In the return game, at the Metropolitan Stadium, the client Atletico won 1-0. The aggregate score meant a penalty shootout.
In Atletico’s second charge, Argentine Julián Álvarez, 25, world champion with his country at the 2022 World Cup, in Qatar, sent to the networks of goalkeeper Belgian Courtois.
Alvarez, however, slipped at the time of the kick, and the question arose if the attacker could have touched the ball with his left foot, the support before kicking it with the other. If this had happened, it would be an illegality and the goal would have to be invalidated.
I saw the replay at the angles offered repeatedly, and it was impossible to conclude that the 19th shirt, even though very lightly, had incurred “two touches” in the collection of this penalty.
By the way, I can assure you that not only me. No one would come to a different understanding. On the contrary. Having seen and reviewed, I concluded that no, that Álvarez did not commit any irregularity.
But who would fit the decision, after the acintosa Chiadeira of Real players, led by star Kylian Mbappé? To him, to VAR, represented by Polish Tomasz Kwiatkowski.
This almighty citizen, with the use of a technology that in some cases (see the impediment lines) is incomprehensible for any non-almighty citizen, and should intercede only in cases of “light and obvious errors,” the doubt would exempt.
How this time? Seeing and reviewing the bid. I insist: From the available images, the ball undoubtedly did not move before Álvarez hit her on the right foot. But Kwiatkowski decreed the opposite, and the field referee, his compatriot Szymon Marciniak, acted.
Annulled goal, the dispute continued, and gave real, 4-2. In the post-game interview, Atletico coach Diego Simeone showed nonconformity. “I saw the images. The ball does not move,” said the Argentine, in reference to the possible touch of Álvarez in the round with the left foot.
Without her moving, you can’t complete anything, and the goal should have been kept. Unless Kwiatkowski has had access to a different angle that corroborates its resolution.
And had. The day after the match, the Champions organizer UEFA, made a video a video in which, with a dose of effort, is noted the irregularity, minimal. It is surprising because by other cameras there is 100% belief in regularity.
VAR had the vision beyond range, saw what no one initially saw, as it had happened in the 2022 World Cup, in a goal in Japan against Spain in which video tobitreration, led by a Mexican, broke that the ball had not gone out of the bottom before the completion of the play – for the vision “within the reach” she left, and a lot.
In the case of Champions, even if the hit can be proven, the discomfort led UEFA to state that “it will be discussions with FIFA and IFAB to determine if the rule should be revised in cases where a double touch is clearly unintentional.”
The IFAB (International Football Association Board) is the body that takes care of the rules of football.
But it is not about changing the rule, or not simply that.
It is a matter of giving vision beyond range, instantly, to everyone involved (players, coaches, fans at the stadium, stadium spectators, you, me).
To always see, and soon, what Var sees.
