• Third goal in Aves’s win against Boavista stands following review • VAR unable to rule it out after Boavista fan blocks camera with flag

A match in Portugal’s Primeira Liga became the scene of a farcical incident involving a video assistant referee, a goal from a corner and a giant flag.

Aves beat Boavista 3-0 on Tuesday and it was their third goal which was the centre of the controversy. Vítor Gomes scored from close range after reacting to a 70th-minute set-piece, but the midfielder appeared to be in an offside position when he struck.

Because of that, the VAR – which is being trialled in Portugal’s top flight this season – was asked to review the incident. But he had difficulty doing so because a Boavista fan located in the away end was blocking the necessary camera with his flag. As a result of not having sufficient evidence to rule out the goal, the referee had no choice but to stick with his original decision.

Thankfully for the Boavista fan in question, Gomes’s goal did not ultimately affect the final result, one that means the bottom-placed Aves are now only two points from safety. Boavista, meanwhile, are ninth having endured their 10th defeat of the season.