Amidst a flurry of disallowed goals, the Juventus victory over Verona was marred by controversy, as there were also calls for Federico Gatti to face disciplinary action following an altercation with Milan Djuric during the match
The focus of the game shifted notably to the disallowed goals, particularly two strikes by Moise Kean. The first was ruled out for a minuscule offside, while the second was nullified due to an arm making contact with Marco Davide Faraoni’s face.
VAR’s Role and the Gatti-Djuric Clash
In a crucial moment during the match, Juventus defender Gatti appeared to make contact with Milan Djuric’s chest. Surprisingly, the match referee took no immediate action, and VAR did not intervene either.
DAZN pundit and former referee Luca Marelli shed light on the situation, emphasizing the importance of whether the hand involved in such an incident was open or clenched into a fist. According to Marelli, Gatti’s closed fist suggested an intent to strike Djuric, which could be categorized as violent conduct.
Marelli went on to explain that VAR might have categorized the incident as something between a yellow and a red card offense, a sort of gray area that hovers between unsporting conduct and violent conduct. This interpretation might elucidate why no on-field review was initiated, but it simultaneously raised questions about the consistency and interpretation of the rules, which remain elusive.
Looking forward, the release of the audio recording capturing the conversation between VAR and the referee over the weekend aims to bring much-needed clarity to what was discussed during the match. However, the incident involving Gatti and Djuric also serves as a stark reminder of the necessity for greater transparency and consistency in the use of VAR in football. Such controversies can significantly influence match outcomes and impact the reputation of players and officials, underlining the enigmatic nature of VAR’s role in the game.
