Historic VAR ruling sparks controversy

By Football Italia staff

Critics of VAR will use SPAL 1-4 Fiorentina as a test case, because it was for the first time used to disallow a goal as a penalty foul came first at the other end.

This scenario had been potential ever since the technology was introduced and represented a moral minefield.

It has now happened, as SPAL thought they had gone 2-1 up with Mattia Valoti on the counter-attack.

However, the referee viewed the previous incident on VAR, as Federico Chiesa was tripped by Dias Felipe inside the opposite penalty area.

His decision was to award the spot-kick to Fiorentina, which automatically rendered everything that followed that moment null and void.

The Viola went on to win 4-1 in tense scenes.

The timing of the whole affair will also cause controversy, as Chiesa was fouled on 72.45 minutes, Valoti scored at 73.20 and referee Pairetto was not called by the VAR booth until 74.55.

A decision to disallow the SPAL goal and give Fiorentina the penalty was not made until 76.33 minutes.

Absolute drama!



The referee has disallowed a goal for @spalferrara after consulting VAR!



And he has awarded a penalty at the other end of the field for @acffiorentina!



Should it have been a penalty?#SerieA pic.twitter.com/DvgGy16Nip — Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) February 17, 2019

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