José Mourinho has criticised the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) following a controversial incident involving João Cancelo and Diomande, arguing that the Barcelona defender should have been sent off.

Mourinho acknowledged the performance of the on-field referee but questioned why VAR did not intervene over the incident in the 60th minute.

“The ref was great but the VAR was sleeping on minute 60,” Mourinho said.

He went on to insist that Cancelo’s challenge on Diomande warranted a straight red card, expressing his belief that the incident was serious enough to require disciplinary action.

“There was a CLEAR red card for Cancelo’s foul on Diomande,” he added.

The comments have drawn attention to the role of VAR in reviewing potentially serious fouls and helping match officials make important decisions. While the technology is intended to assist referees in key match situations, its use continues to generate debate whenever supporters, players or football figures believe a major decision has been missed.

Under the Laws of the Game, a referee may issue a red card for serious foul play, depending on the nature and severity of a challenge. VAR can recommend an on-field review when there is a potential clear and obvious error involving a direct red-card decision, but the final decision remains with the referee.

Mourinho’s remarks reflect his view that Cancelo’s challenge crossed the threshold for a sending-off and that the video review team should have intervened.

However, the statement alone does not establish whether VAR reviewed the incident or what reasoning, if any, was behind the decision not to recommend a review. The match details and the official explanation of the incident were not provided in the information available.

The controversy highlights the scrutiny surrounding refereeing decisions in high-profile football matches, particularly when a potential red card could influence the course of a game.

For Mourinho, the central issue was clear: he believed Cancelo should have been dismissed and that VAR missed an opportunity to correct the decision.

Source

https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2114483731138314328