A refereeing error had a significant impact on the game in the 30th round of the Admiral Bundesliga that could potentially decide the championship. The Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) confirmed on Wednesday via VAR review that referee Christian-Petru Ciochirca was wrong in the 73rd minute of Rapid’s 2-0 home win against Red Bull Salzburg on Sunday.
08.05.2024 13.38
Online since today, 1:38 p.m
Instead of the goal to make it 2-0, there should have been a penalty for Salzburg. Rapid defender Nikolas Sattlberger brought down Salzburg attacker Karim Konate in the penalty area. Rapid won the ball and scored on the counterattack through Guido Burgstaller. Rapids Fally Mayulu, who passed the pass to the goalscorer, had previously prevailed in a duel with Mads Bidstrup.
While the Mayulu-Bidstrup duel was to be classified as “tough but fair,” Sattlberger’s attack “would have been punished with a penalty” because the Rapid player missed the ball and hit Konate’s ankle, the Bundesliga said on Wednesday.
Focus placed on wrong action
The video assistant referee recommended that Ciochirca review the scene, which the referee also carried out. Ciochirca primarily looked at the duel on the counterattack and less intensively at the action in the Rapid penalty area. “However, the focus should have been on the action with the missed penalty,” the Bundesliga announced.
Due to the 2-0 defeat, Salzburg is four points behind Puntigamer Sturm Graz before the remaining two games of the season and could be dethroned on Sunday.
