“It’s the dream debut, thank God we’re leaving with the three points.” Jefferson Lerma defined this way the victory of the Colombian National Team 2-1 over Paraguay at the NRG Stadium in Houston, with which the action opened in Group D of the Copa América USA 2024, in which Brazil and Costa Rica tied without goals in the second round.
The first commitment of the Tricolor in the continental competition, in which Crystal Palace players Daniel Muñoz and Lerma himself were the authors of the goalswhile Julio Enciso discounted for the Paraguayans, had VAR actions, such as the ‘silent review’ of a hand from the right back in his own area or the non-penalty decision in favor of Colombia after Yerry Mina fell after an aerial dispute.
Conmebol published the VAR audios of these actions. In the first, when Enciso tried to send the center from the left that was blocked by Muñoz and later hit him in the hand, they gave the right to the central judge Darío Herrera, who clearly said that “there was a non-punishable hand”. “All clean. The hand, as you say, there is a rebound, then it hits his hand, it comes from his own body, and in the second action there is a game dispute, nothing more,” they confirmed from above.
In the 83rd minute, when the team led by Néstor Lorenzo was looking for the goal of tranquility that would ensure the victory, there was a cross from the right to the far post, where Yerry Mina fell as a result of the dispute with a rival. The Argentine referee whistled a penalty in the first instance, but there was a call and a review on the field to change his decision and restart with a dropped ball.
VAR audios in the non-penalty on Yerry Mina
VAR: Clearly enabled. Possible lack.
AVAR: Penalty sanctioned.
Referee: Penalty, he has him restrained.
AVAR: He says he has him restrained.
VAR: Let her run, let her run. Fullscreen. Give me fullscreen.
AVAR: Check calmly.
VAR: Good good, perfect. Give me a short shot behind the goal. I want to see something clear. Give me the minicam. Let her run. Give me the point of contact. Stop at the point of contact, there. Give me the reverse. Let her run. I see that both players are taking it. Let it run at 16%. There is no force, there is no impediment to bring it, do we agree?
AVAR: I agree with you. For me it is not criminal.
VAR: It’s a normal dispute. I’ll wait for it with that camera.
AVAR: This support does not generate that fall and does not reach the ball.
VAR: Exactly and there is a mutual subjection. Let’s see the APP, don’t worry.
AVAR: Do you have time.
Referee: I see a restraint that prevents him from heading.
VAR: I’m going to wait for you with the reverse contact point, just now. The two players are holding each other.
AVAR: I close it the same.
VAR: I’m going to invite you to an On Field Review.
AVAR: I agree with you, not criminal.
VAR: Dario, Dario.
Referee: Yes I listen you.
VAR: I invite you to an On Field Review, for possible non-criminal reasons.
Referee: Good perfect.
VAR: When you arrive I will show you an image where both players are holding each other in the air and fighting. And in the support that you express, there is no impediment for the player to jump. It is a struggle typical of action.
Referee: Silvio, come on.
VAR: The left hand of the yellow player holding the red player. And the red player’s hand that is on the chest. Now I’m going to loop you longer from behind.
Referee: Give me a back angle, Silvio, please. Well, I want to see it from another angle.
VAR: Now I’m going to give it to you at 16.50, normal speed.
Referee: Perfect. The number 25 is not necessary. I’m going to restart with a bounce to the ground, the ball there. No lack. We’re ok?
VAR: We agree.
After the talk with the VAR referees, Darío Herrera communicated his decision over the speakers at the NRG Stadium: “I notice that player number 25 does not foul. My restart is with a bounce to the ground, no foul, no penalty”.
What’s coming for the National Team
The results of the first day left Colombia at the top of Group D with 3 points. He will now travel to Phoenix, Arizona, where will face Costa Rica this Friday, June 28, starting at 5:00 pm (Colombian time) at State Farm Stadium.
A victory on the second date will ensure the Tricolor a place in the quarterfinals of the Copa América pending the close of the group stage that will be against Brazil at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
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