Three Incorrect Decisions Quickly Corrected – Genoa Vs Inter Milan Serie A Draw A “Perfect Advertisement” For VAR

Yesterday’s opening day draw between Genoa and Inter Milan was a “perfect advertisement” for the use of VAR in Serie A.

This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews. The newspaper note that the technology allowed for three incorrect decisions to be reversed in decisive moments.

The implementation of VAR has not always been universally popular in Serie A.

Criticisms of the technology include its tendency to slow matches down for long reviews.

But where VAR does get high marks is when it intervenes to correct decisions that are indisputably wrong.

There may be some unnecessary reviews. But in some situations, VAR can give a sense of “justice done.”

Genoa Vs Inter Draw A “Perfect Advertisement” For VAR In Serie A

Yesterday at the Marassi, there were three big VAR interventions.

Firstly, the video assistant quickly advised referee Ermanno Feliciani to have a look at the screen after he had initially awarded Inter a penalty.

The official showed no hesitation to point to the spot after a coming together in the box between Inter striker Marcus Thuram and Genoa midfielder Milan Badelj.

But it was in fact the Nerazzurri player who had kicked the back of the foot of his Grifone opposite number.

Had the penalty stood, it would have been incredibly harsh on Genoa.

Therefore it was no surprise to see Feliciani quickly reverse his initial decision after reviewing the video.

Then late in the second half, Thuram seemed to give Inter a late lead. The Frenchman finished off a flowing Nerazzurri team move to make it 2-1.

However, the offside flag denied Inter joy. At least initially.

The decision was certainly a tight one, with Thuram right on the edge of the Genoa offside line. But as it turned out, Grifone defender Johan Vazquez had just about played him on with his right foot.

Therefore, there would be no disputing that it was fair to award Inter the goal after a VAR review.

That was not the end of the drama, though.

Genoa players appealed strongly for a penalty in stoppage time after Inter defender Yann Bisseck had appeared to handle the ball inside his own area.

Referee Feliciani had not initially pointed to the spot.

But VAR advised the official to have another look, as there was no doubt Bisseck had made contact with the ball with his arm after missing a header.

The referee didn’t need to look at the footage long. He reversed his decision and awarded a penalty to Genoa.