Belgrano crowned champions after controversial VAR penalty seals historic win over River

Belgrano secured the first title in its history, triumphing over River in a dramatic final at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes. The Córdoba club clinched the victory with two late goals from Nicolás Fernández in the 40th and 43rd minutes of the second half. However, the turning point of the match occurred earlier, with a penalty decision that shifted the momentum.

At 2-1 down to River in the 28th minute of the second half, Belgrano's Nicolás Fernández attempted a through pass into the area. The ball struck Lautaro Rivero's left arm, which was positioned near the edge of the penalty box. While Rivero appeared to make an effort to retract his arm, the ball made contact, leading to a penalty appeal from Belgrano.

Initially, referee Yael Falcón Pérez allowed play to continue. However, Belgrano players protested, prompting the VAR official, Leandro Rey Hilfer, to intervene. After reviewing whether the handball occurred inside or outside the area, Rivero had one foot on either side of the line, Falcón Pérez determined it was a "sanctionable handball" and awarded the penalty. Fernández converted the spot-kick, leveling the score before adding the decisive goal minutes later.

River's coach, Eduardo Coudet, reacted furiously to the penalty call, protesting vehemently from the sidelines. He was ultimately sent off following the winning goal. After the final whistle, Coudet returned to the field to confront the referee about the penalty decision. Visibly upset, he refused to accept his runner-up medal.

The interpretation of the handball rule, specifically Law 12 of FIFA's Official Regulations, states that touching the ball with the hand or arm must be deliberate. The rule also considers factors such as the movement of the hand towards the ball, the distance between the opponent and the hand, and whether the hand's position was a natural consequence of the player's movement. The incident highlights the ongoing debate surrounding handball interpretations in football.

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