It was the 49th minute when a play completely modified the match that was taking place in the Gran Parque Central of Montevideo in the clash between Nacional and River Plate, corresponding to the fourth date of Group H of the Copa Libertadores.
Defender Leandro Lozano went vehemently to dispute the ball against midfielder Rodrigo Aliendro, who was left lying on the ground showing significant gestures of pain. This clash led to a strong discussion between both teams and which culminated in a pitched battle, in which pushing and some fist blows prevailed, such as the one Franco Romero gave to Paulo Díaz. Given this situation, Wagner Reway, in charge of the VAR, decided to call the main judge Anderson Daronco to review the imagessince he had chosen to caution Lozano and had not carried out any sanction as a result of the skirmish that occurred on the field of play.
Conmebol released the audio and images to clarify Daronco’s decision. “In the 49th minute, a player in white, when going to contest for a ball, jumps with both feet using excessive force, touching the ball and then hits an opponent, endangering the physical integrity of the player. The referee observes, sanctions the infraction and cautions the player in white. Then a confrontation between players occurs where another player in white is seen throwing a punch in the face of a rival in red, resulting in violent behavior. The VAR, in its protocol check, using correct angles, speeds and considerations, analyzes both actions and identifies the first as a red card for serious rough play and the second as violent conduct., so he calls the referee for an on-field review. After seeing the images on the monitor, he decides to keep the yellow card initially shown and decides to caution the player in white for the blow to the opponent’s face. It should be noted that according to the VAR protocol, the referee is responsible for the final decision after each review.“, explained the video that the South American Football Confederation uploaded on its YouTube account, making clear the difference in criteria between the main referee and those in charge of Video Referee Assistance.
“Strong, but on the ball. Yellow for 14″, Daronco said in the middle of the game; while Wagner Reway warned him that “we are looking at the other parts of the confrontation” and AVAR Rodrigo D’Alonso is heard warning that there was a fist blow against a footballer from the millionaire cast.
Almost simultaneously, the judge shows the yellow card for Lozano. “For you, because you go like that on the ball, but strong. “It’s your fault,” exclaimed the referee, performing the classic gesture in which the defender threw himself with both feet forward.
As a result of a discrepancy in criteria, the members of the Video Referee Assistance booth recommended to the Brazilian judge that he approach the monitor located on one side of the center of the field to review both actions. “It’s in slow motion, I have to see faster,” Daronco asked when he first saw the blow on the face of Chilean Paulo Díaz. “The number five thing doesn’t close me for a red card”the judge warned after observing the play at normal speed.
Then the foul on Rodrigo Aliendro was analyzed. Despite the fact that the VAR told him that “the dispute seems strong to me”, the man in charge of dispensing justice decided to stand firm in the decision he made on the field. “I am thinking about keeping the yellow and showing yellow to the five. For five, yellow for me and for fourteen I keep the yellow,” he concluded.
