Referees and the VAR in controversy in the Betplay League – Colombian Soccer – Sports

This is not a good time for Colombian arbitration. In less than two dates that go from League II, the protagonists have been the judges, and the WHERE, who have been criticized for controversial plays that have affected some and benefited others. And the worst thing is that this adds to the arbitration record at the international level.

(You may be interested in: Alfredo Arias, Cali coach, exploded against the referees)

The date of the weekend was particularly controversial because of the refereeing decisions in four games. The complaints were not lacking, there were even vehement reactions from coaches who once again attacked the VAR.

One of the games was that of Saturday between Nacional (1) and Tolima (0), where a key play was presented and it was the goal of the vinotinto equalizer, when goalkeeper Aldair Quintana released the ball and forward Luis Miranda scored.

What happened? Referee Carlos Ortega received the call from the VAR and then decided to annul the goal, by apparent contact or obstruction of the attacker. DT Hernán Torres exploded:

“Why did they cancel the goal? It is legitimate, a big mistake by that Mr. Ortega. We are not going to detract from the result, but that goal, wherever it wants, is legitimate. I respect the referees, but these childish mistakes put an end to the mood of any group, ”Torres said at the start of his post-match press conference. “I know they are human beings, but I wonder why they canceled it? They are primary errors, ”Torres added.

(Read also: ‘Why did they annul the goal?’: Hernán Torres)

There was more. In the game Cali (0), Medellín (0) there were several controversial actions, such as a goal annulled by the referee Jhon Ospina against Cali for an alleged previous foul in attack, which left DT Alfredo Arias, of the sugar team, very upset, who nothing was saved against the VAR.

“What happened is out of all logic, it is incredible and totally out of context of what football is and reality. If a foul is called in that goal, in the same play they are grabbing more Preciado, Colorado … they are blunders, “he said.

In this game there was a penalty for DIM, well sanctioned, and a sent off in Cali in that same action, which generated divided opinions. In addition, in the failed collection in the DIM there was an invasion of the area. It must have been repeated.

The Cali team also had a goal canceled, of course, offside, indicated by the VAR, in the match of the first date against Santa Fe. “I don’t hear that they have suspended anyone, I don’t hear names, or changes, or anything”, added DT.

There were also controversies in the Bucaramanga party (4) Santa Fe (3), in which the referee Éder Vergara sanctioned a penalty outside the area, and validated a goal that had a previous hand from Andrés Correa. The player himself said on Twitter: “I imagine how difficult it is for my colleagues, in this case from Santa Fe, because of the decisions of the authority, which I neither blame nor believe is acting in bad faith.”

To make matters worse, in the game between Jaguares (1) and Once Caldas (1) there was a controversial penalty in favor of the Manizales team sanctioned by judge Wander Mosquera.

What’s going on?

Wílmer Barahona, a former referee and analyst, says that so many failures at the start of the League are worrisome. “The refereeing goes through difficult times. Before the controversies were after the date 10 or 11, today in the 2 there are already controversies; There are arbitrators with a low level, bad appointments by the Arbitration Commission, which appoints them with a low level and those who make mistakes are appointed again after 8 days. Colombia needs professional arbitrators, that the VAR audios are public the next day, that the ranks are public, and that whoever appoints the arbitrators knows, “he told EL TIEMPO.

He agrees that there were failures in the four games, although he clarifies that in the game between Águilas and América, in his opinion, the VAR was right by indicating that there was a previous foul in the goal disallowed at the premises.

For his part, José Borda, an analyst for ‘Caracol Radio’, said on his Twitter account that Tolima’s goal was badly annulled, and criticized the mistakes in Bucaramanga.

This newspaper sought the opinion of the Arbitration Commission, but received no response. Fernando Jaramillo, president of Dimayor, abstained from commenting.

International crisis

This situation is added to the recent sanctions that were imposed by the Colombian arbitration abroad, as in the Copa Libertadores match between Boca and Mineiro when Andres Rojas annulled a score by the Argentine team, which earned him the indefinite suspension of Conmebol.

They were also suspended Nicolas Gallo (VAR referee) and Miguel Roldán (assistant referee) for making a mistake in the match between Uruguay and Paraguay in the qualifying round for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

PABLO ROMERO
Editor of EL TIEMPO
@PabloRomeroET

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