The VAR afternoon at River-Argentinos: one by one, all the plays passed through the eye of technology

The renewed one was pending Monumental anxiously awaiting the decision of the referee Fernando Rapallini. Argentinos Juniors equalized in their last game but assistant coach Sebastián Raineri waved his flag. Leonardo Heredia’s position remained in doubt. Attention then turned to the VAR, who had a busy day. Mauro Vigliano drew red lines and blue lines and after long minutes he notified the presiding judge that the action had been cancelled. A celebration was heard in the stands and Ignacio Fernández shouted it as if it were a goal.

It had been a long time since so much time was lost in a match due to VAR analysis.

​The first intervention took place 33 minutes into the first phase. Rodrigo Cabral flooded down the left, sending in a forced cross which after several rebounds ended in a goal from Gastón Verón. The number 2 linesman, José Castelli raised his flag indicating that the ball had gone to Cabral. There have been protests from visitors. Rapallini put a hand to her ear and waited for voices. Seconds passed.

And what happened? The VAR told the referee that Verón was leading by inches when Ávalos’ shot rebounded off the crossbar. Herrera, off the field, enables, but Verón is behind Armani and therefore offside.

In the complement the controversies continued. In the 3rd minute Rapallini sanctions a foul by Ávalos on Enzo Pérez. And curiously, the VAR did not call the referee for review, despite the play being dubious to say the least.

In one of the repetitions it is observed how the central midfielder of River reaches first the ball between Nuss and Ávalos and throws himself at the slightest contact.

And in the 23rd minute Mac Allister arrives in the area to deflect a cross from Barco and, despite the lucidity of the action, Rapallini doesn’t see it. There he was saved by VAR and Barco had his penalty changed for a goal.

The game has already been described in the end, and Monumental has been suspended due to the appearance of the VAR. But the fans ended up celebrating the victory in the midst of hell, for the honored world champions and the courage that the team showed in the second half.