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VAR Disallows Peñarol Penalty Appeal Due to Offside
🇺🇾 Uruguay /Conflict & Security

VAR Disallows Peñarol Penalty Appeal Due to Offside

From El País · (3d ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A controversial penalty call was debated in the Copa Libertadores match between Peñarol and Platense.
  • Peñarol's Matías Arezo appeared to be fouled in the box, leading to loud penalty appeals from the home crowd and players.
  • The referee consulted VAR and ultimately disallowed the penalty because Arezo was in an offside position, invalidating the subsequent play.

A moment of intense controversy marred the Copa Libertadores clash between Peñarol and Platense, as a potential penalty incident involving Matías Arezo ignited passionate appeals from the home side. Peñarol, struggling to break down Platense's defense, saw a promising attack down the right flank initiated by Luis Miguel Ángulo. A quick one-two with Nicolás Fernández led to a low cross intended for Arezo.

Peñarol needed a reaction. They couldn't find a way to hurt the goalkeeper Matías Borgogno.

— El PaísSetting the scene for Peñarol's struggle in the match.

As Arezo moved to connect with the ball, he fell to the ground, alleging he had been struck from behind by Platense defender Eugenio Raggio. This incident immediately drew a furious reaction from the Peñarol faithful and players, who vociferously demanded a penalty. The stadium erupted with cries of '¡Penal!' as the players surrounded Paraguayan referee Derlis López.

The number 77 broke away, played a one-two with Nicolás Fernández to go down the right flank. In that context, he sent a low cross for Matías Arezo to reach the ball, although the Peñarol forward remained on the ground accusing that he received a blow from behind by the full-back Eugenio Raggio.

Describing the incident leading to the penalty appeal.

Referee López signaled for a VAR review, offering a glimmer of hope to the expectant crowd that a penalty might be awarded, potentially leveling the score. However, the Video Assistant Referee's intervention ultimately confirmed that the decision on the field would stand, but for a reason that nullified the drama: Matías Arezo was indeed in an offside position when the ball was played.

'Penalty!'

— Peñarol fansThe crowd's reaction to the alleged foul.

According to the rules, any subsequent action stemming from an offside play is automatically invalidated. Therefore, even though the foul might have occurred, the initial offside position meant the entire sequence, including the potential penalty, was void. This ruling, while technically correct according to the laws of the game, left the home supporters and the Peñarol team frustrated, ending their hopes of a crucial equalizer from the spot.

However, the referee made the VAR gesture. That meant he was going to review that action, so the local fans were excited that he might award the penalty and give Peñarol the great chance to equalize the score.

Explaining the referee's decision to consult VAR.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El País in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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