A goal by Cristiano Ronaldo that was not scored in a dramatic World Cup qualifier between Serbia and Portugal would have existed if the two football associations had agreed to use goal-line technology before the game, UEFA said on Monday.
Portuguese captain Ronaldo was furious and booked for dissent after Stefan Mitrovic ended stoppage time in a 2-2 Group A draw in Serbia on Saturday after the ball crossed the line, TV replays showed.
In the absence of a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to review the incident, match officers continued to wave and a lively Ronaldo walked off the pitch seconds before the final whistle when he also threw away the captain’s armband as he headed towards Tunnel went.
« The decision to use goal-line technology for European qualifiers rests with the host association for each game, » said the European Football Association.
« If the host association plans to implement goal-line technology, it must also obtain written approval from the visiting association in order for it to be used, » added UEFA.
Referee Danny Makkelie told the Portuguese newspaper on Monday A Bola, he apologized to Portugal coach Fernando Santos and the rest of the team for the mistake.
« All I can say is that I apologized to the coach and the team for what happened. As the referee team, we always work hard to make the right decisions. When we’re in the news for a reason like this, it’s this is not the case. » make us happy at all, « he said.
Santos said after the game it was unacceptable not to have a VAR at this competitive level, but UEFA said on Sunday the COVID-19 pandemic made that impossible Install system in time for qualification.
« In 2019, UEFA proposed to FIFA to introduce VAR in the current World Cup qualifiers, » it said.
The referee apologizes [Courtesy photo]
« The impact of the pandemic on operational and logistical capabilities prompted UEFA to implement VAR in the Europa League group stage (until 2021-22 instead of 2020-21) delay and withdraw the proposal to implement VAR in Europe in 2022 qualifiers.
« VAR was also not used in the group stage of the UEFA Nations League in autumn 2020 and has therefore never been used in qualifying matches for the group stage of the UEFA national team. »
FIFA, which organizes the World Cup, informed UEFA in January that VAR could not be used in qualifying due to the « problems and restrictions » caused by the novel coronavirus.
The result left Serbia at the top of the group with four points from two games, ahead of Portugal because of the goal difference. The two teams will face the second leg again in the finals in Portugal on November 14th.
Ref: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke
