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#1 PSG vs Manchester United (Penalty)
The latest VAR decision which has the whole fraternity divided is the penalty call for Manchester United against PSG. The Red Devils came into Paris with many key members of the team including Martial, Lingard, and Alexis, unfit for the game. They fielded what should be called a reserve team.
Bailly as right back, Ashley Young, Fred, and Andreas Pereira were the midfielders, and Scott McTominay was in the right wing. The substitutes? Mason Greenwood, Tahith Chong, Diogo Dalot, James Garner, Angel Gomes, and Sergio Romero. What else can we call this team but a reserve team? What is surprising is that PSG blew a 2-0 lead, and two away goals away.
Manchester United had Romelu Lukaku to thank for being diligent all the time. He pounced onto the back-pass from Kehrer and converted it into a goal and he pounced on Buffon's spill and converted that too. In the 91st minute, the Red Devils got the prize for their toils, a spot-kick that could send them through. The villain for PSG, VAR.
Verdict:
Diogo Dalot's shot was blocked by Presnel Kimpembe and possibly with his hands which had to be awarded as a spot kick. But the question is, was that an intentional handball? A penalty or foul cannot be given if the ball hits the hands coincidentally.
It has to be said that the call was a fair one yet a bit harsh on Kimpembe. The orientation of his body shows that he is trying to face away from the ball and block it. However, the thing is that he has left his right-hand dangling out, right on the path of the ball, far away from the body for the referee's liking.
It can be given both ways. It can be argued that it was purely unintentional and just a reflex action of saving himself from the ball. But what goes in favor of the referee is what is that hand doing that far out from his body in the correct height of the ball. In a risk situation, if we want to protect ourselves, as people are arguing that Kimpembe was, both our hands move in coordination. It cannot be that one of the hands covers the face while the other is moving away, which is happening here. There are no attempts to pull the hand closer to the body too.
We don't know what Kimpembe was doing but it cannot be argued that he didn't leave the hand out on purpose. The referee does not deserve any abuses for a decision that he gave. Even though a bit harsh, the benefit of the doubt goes to the attacking side because they clearly had a shot blocked and the defender had left his hand dangling away from his body.
50/50 call, a fair decision but a bit harsh too.
