Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic got the major decisions right in yesterday evening’s Champions League win by Inter over Barcelona in the view of Italian media.
The official was praised in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, who feel that there was little to criticize him for despite the fact that he had some real decisions to make.
Vincic’s first big decision came in the first half when Barcelona defender Eric Garcia appeared to handle the ball in the Blaugranas’ penalty area.
The referee did not initially point to the spot but then took advice from the VAR, who noticed the handball, though also noted that there was a potential Nerazzurri offside in the buildup.
Eventually, between the on-pitch referee and the VAR the correct decision was arrived at, with no penalty awarded due to the slight offside in the buildup.
Then, in the second half the VAR was involved once again, with a handball by Barcelona winger Ansu Fati spotted moments before midfielder Pedri appeared to have equalized for the Blaugranas.
In the view of the Gazzetta, the VAR got it right in disallowing the goal given that contact by the Spanish winger with his hands.
Lastly, the VAR had a look at a late incident in which Nerazzurri wingback Denzel Dumfries appeared to handle the ball in his own box while defending a cross.
Vincic did not initially point to the spot for the contact, but the VAR reviewed the incident for a potential penalty.
There was clear contact by the Dutchman’s arm on the ball, but no penalty was given.
In the view of the Gazzetta, this was the correct decision because the ball had bounced off of Dumfries’s head just before it hit his outstretched arm.
