The VAR audio was revealed in Defence-Riestra, were the lines drawn well in the controversial penalty?

Monday evening, Defense and Justice achieved the second consecutive draw, this time against Deportivo Riestra, with the score 1-1 on their own soil. The duel against Malevo was marked by a controversial decision, born at the request of VAR, which added further drama to Varela’s evening.

At the start of the second half, with Deportivo Riestra leading 1-0, the referee Fernando Espinoza awarded a penalty to Halcón after a handball Joaquin Borja. However, after nearly three minutes of review, Yamil Possi alerted the referee to an advanced position of Gaston Togni in the initial play that led to the penalty.

As a result, the decision was changed to an indirect free kick in favor of Riestra. The situation was confusing for spectators, even those following the action on television, ever since camera angles The situation was clearly not appreciated.

The uncertainty tried to dissipate this Wednesday with the revelation of the audio and screenshots of the software used, which showed that Togni was in an offside position at the moment he received the pass from Uvita Fernandezjust before entering the rival area with the ball.

“The VAR team in its control, with different angles and speeds, and using considerations, certifies that the hand is punishable but by protocolically checking the APP of the action (the “Attacking Possession Phase” or attack phase with possession of the ball) and after having built the virtual lines, it identifies that before the penalty incident, an attacker was offside”, summarizes the video released by the League Cup.

In the dialogue between Espinoza and his VAR assistants, this whole situation is laid bare. “Once the penalty is confirmed, we will only see the APP according to protocol,” warned Possi Espinoza, starting the review that would end up canceling the penalty for offside.

There you can see the famous “line tracing” that the VAR carries out with its specialized software, much more precise than what can be determined through the television broadcast that viewers follow, live.

“Let’s throw a joke”, we hear the VAR say, anticipating a possible irregularity in the game. “Fer, management that we are analyzing possible offside at the start”, warn Espinoza, almost as if he were worried about managing the uncertainty that was beginning to become visible among the players.

“Give me the shoulder of the 9”, asks Possi, in the middle of the analysis of the play, marking the position of Jonathan Herrera, the Riestra player who marked the limit of the action, in contrast with the position of Togni’s body. According to the lines, the Defensa y Justicia player appears disqualified at the time of Fernández’s pass.

“Offside, this is what you get? Ok, ready, let’s go,” concludes the VAR, and then lowers the order to Espinoza: “Fernando! Fernando, this is Yamil. Factual decision. Offside.” With this comment the referee did not need to come closer to see the monitor and accepted what his assistants saw from the booth, which is why he sanctioned the indirect free kick in favor of Riestra.

Beyond the anger of coach Julio Vaccari, who said in the press conference that his wife had advised him not to dwell on non-football issues anymore (he had already complained a week earlier after the clash with Central Córdoba), technology seems to give he the right to referees. VAR stuff.