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#3 VAR does its job correctly for once
Tonight’s game had two flash-points of controversy; firstly there was Christian Pulisic’s goal for Chelsea, and secondly the awarding of Daniel Parejo’s penalty. To discuss the former first, it must be said that VAR actually did its job correctly tonight. The goal was initially flagged offside – something that two early replays appeared to confirm – but after a lengthy VAR check, the goal was awarded.
Moments later another replay from a different angle confirmed this as the correct call – Ezequiel Garay’s foot had played Pulisic onside. This would probably never have been picked up without VAR, and was the very definition of a clear and obvious mistake from the officials that would’ve gone unnoticed without the system.
The penalty on the other hand was more questionable; it looked like a stone-wall penalty on first glance, but a second angle – from behind the goal – seemed to suggest that Jose Gaya had actually fouled Jorginho rather than the other way around.
Quite why VAR didn’t pick up the referee’s mistake in this decision I’m not sure – it didn’t even feel like the decision was checked.
Sure, Parejo missed the eventual spot-kick, but if he’d scored, Chelsea could’ve been on the brink of elimination right now. Overall then VAR needs to be praised for the way in which it allowed Pulisic’s goal to stand, but due to the penalty call, question marks over the system still remain.
