Football news – Is that allowed? VAR screen breaks, so referee told to award penalty
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Updated 20/02/2019 at 22:26 GMT
Manchester City’s 3-2 win over Schalke was marred by VAR after a pitchside monitor fault left the referee overturning a decision without visual clarification.
Manchester City players protest
Image credit: Getty Images
City were 1-0 ahead when a shot struck Nicolas Otamendi on the arm inside the penalty area. Here’s what unfolded:
- No penalty initially awarded
- VAR advises referee Carlos del Cerro Grande to revisit incident
- Pitchside monitor is broken
- Referee awards penalty based on VAR advice, without visual aid
- Nabil Bentaleb scores from the spot
The decision – which split opinion – shifted the momentum, with Schalke quickly earning and scoring another penalty after Fernandinho had hauled down Salif Sane.
And although City completed an unlikely comeback via late strikes from Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling, UEFA still have questions to answer after the referee was unable to review his decision on the pitchside screen.
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Referee Carlos del Cerro Grande gestures during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between FC Schalke 04 and Manchester City at Veltins-Arena on February 20, 2019 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
Image credit: Getty Images
Is this even allowed?
According to UEFA’s own guide, VAR may overrule a referee’s decision in “factual” cases – i.e. offsides, fouls in or outside the penalty area.
But the referee must make the final decision in infringements that are subjective – like the Otamendi ‘handball’ – and so the broken monitor throws into doubt whether VAR had the authority to overrule the original call.
UEFA are expected to release a statement.
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