Tag: Vélez

This may have been the finest moment in VAR history

For at least one day, we can all agree that a VAR review was a welcome development

VAR isn’t always the most popular part of the game. But in an Argentinian league match on Wednesday, the oft-maligned technology produced perhaps the finest moment in its history.

The scene: Midway through the second half with Lanús and Vélez tied, Vélez defender Francisco Ortega is shielding the ball from Lanús forward Mateo Sanabria.

Suddenly, Ortega loses his cool. He shoves Sanabria in the chest and the young forward, naturally, makes the most of it by rolling around on the ground clutching his face.

Referee Luis Lobo Medina shows Ortega a yellow card but, all of a sudden, he hears something in his ear from the video official. There’s something he needs to check out.

And after a video review, there it is: Subtly, almost too fast for the human eye to see, Sanabria can be seen reaching under Ortega and … grabbing him in exactly the place he would not want to be grabbed.

Medina goes back to the pitch. Red card for Sanabria. Justice.

And, for one day at least, everyone can agree that VAR got the job done right.

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