#match-officiating

#match-officiating

The characteristics of a reckless challenge, originally identified by the on-field referee, were not evident in the footage presented to the VAR team when reviewing the incident. Attwell, would have been very uncomfortable with Simons action, feeling the contact on the back of Van Dijk's calf, with a level of force and speed, endangered the safety of his opponent and met the threshold for a possible red card.

There is a lot of discussion ongoing surrounding the penalty awarded by Simone Sozza after a VAR check following what was adjudged to be a foul by Strahinja Pavlovic on Marcus Thuram. It has divided experts, with some calling it an 'abomination' and others stating it was a 'reckless' challenge. A couple of other moments have gone under the microscope, though. Firstly, Lautaro Martinez swung an elbow at Matteo Gabbia while going up for a header in the first half. It left the defender with a bloodied nose, and the force behind it suggested there was a more cynical intention.