🚨 VAR talking about Barcelona’s penalty yesterday: -VAR Room: 🗣️ “Mario, I recommend a viewing so you can assess a possible penalty.” » – Mario Melero López (head referee): 🗣️ “Perfect, I’ll watch. Show me the image so I can see the hanging. This was Paté Ciss, wasn’t it? » – VAR Room: “🗣️ Yes.” – Mario López: 🗣️ “Ok, he completely ignores the ball. He clearly ignores it. The ball is out of the zone, but it’s obvious. With his left hand, he’s holding him by the stomach. He doesn’t look at the ball and he completely forgets about it. I’m going to whistle the penalty and get a yellow card. » – VAR Room: “🗣️ Perfect, Mario. »

The conversation between the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) team and the on-field referee, Mario Melero López, provides insight into the decision-making process that led to Barcelona being awarded a penalty in their recent match. Below is a detailed breakdown of what happened, why the decision was made, and the significance of the process:

 

 

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1. What Happened? (Context of the Incident)

 

During the match, there was a moment when Barcelona appealed for a penalty after an incident involving Paté Ciss. Initially, the referee, Mario Melero López, did not award a penalty in real-time. However, the VAR team reviewed the situation and found enough evidence to intervene.

 

 

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2. The VAR Process Explained

 

VAR’s role is to assist the on-field referee in correcting “clear and obvious errors” or reviewing “serious missed incidents” related to goals, penalties, direct red cards, and mistaken identity. In this case, VAR identified a potential foul inside the box and recommended an on-field review.

 

VAR Room Communication:

 

The VAR official alerts the head referee, saying:

 

> “Mario, I recommend a viewing so you can assess a possible penalty.”

 

 

 

This statement indicates that VAR believes there is a possible clear foul and invites the referee to review the footage on the pitch-side monitor.

 

 

On-Field Referee’s Initial Response:

 

Mario Melero López acknowledges the call and asks for a clear image of the incident:

 

> “Perfect, I’ll watch. Show me the image so I can see the hanging. This was Paté Ciss, wasn’t it?”

 

 

 

This means he wants to verify the player involved and carefully analyze the infringement.

 

 

 

 

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3. The Key Elements of the Decision

 

Once the referee examines the footage, he provides a detailed description of why he believes the foul justifies a penalty and a yellow card:

 

Disregard for the Ball:

 

“Ok, he completely ignores the ball.”

 

The referee notices that Paté Ciss is not making any attempt to play the ball, which is a key factor in deciding whether a foul has been committed.

 

 

Holding/Grabbing the Opponent:

 

“With his left hand, he’s holding him by the stomach.”

 

This indicates an illegal action, as grabbing or holding an opponent in a way that prevents them from playing the ball is a foul.

 

 

Ball Position & Influence on Decision:

 

“The ball is out of the zone, but it’s obvious.”

 

Even though the ball was not in the immediate area of contact, the foul was clear enough that it impacted the play. The referee acknowledges that while the ball’s location can sometimes affect decisions, in this case, the foul itself was blatant.

 

 

Decision to Award a Penalty & Give a Yellow Card:

 

“I’m going to whistle the penalty and get a yellow card.”

 

After considering all factors, the referee concludes that the offense warrants a penalty and a caution (yellow card), likely due to the nature of the contact and the fact that it was not a clear goal-scoring opportunity (which would have required a red card).

 

 

 

 

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4. VAR’s Confirmation & Final Decision

 

Once the referee makes his decision, the VAR team responds with:

 

“Perfect, Mario.”

 

This indicates that VAR agrees with the final decision and there is no further need for discussion or intervention.

 

 

 

At this point, the referee officially awards the penalty to Barcelona, and play resumes accordingly.

 

 

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5. Why This Decision Matters

 

This incident is a textbook example of how VAR is supposed to function:

 

Correcting an On-Field Decision:

 

The referee did not initially see the foul clearly in real-time, but VAR helped bring attention to it.

 

 

Ensuring Fairness:

 

The review process confirmed that a clear foul had been committed, preventing an unjust outcome.

 

 

Transparency in Decision-Making:

 

The communication between VAR and the referee shows that decisions are not arbitrary but based on a structured analysis of the game’s laws.

 

 

Avoiding Major Controversy:

 

By following the protocol properly, the referee reduces the risk of backlash from teams and fans, as there is clear evidence supporting his call.

 

 

 

 

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6. Conclusion

 

This sequence demonstrates VAR’s importance in modern football. While it cannot eliminate all controversy, it ensures that major decisions are based on clear video evidence rather than split-second judgment. Barcelona benefited from this review, and the decision to award the penalty was based on the referee’s analysis o

f the footage, confirming that Paté Ciss committed a foul by holding his opponent inside the box without playing the ball.