Deputy of the Italian refereeing association Antonio Damato has explained why VAR acted correctly to allow Inter Milan’s opener against Empoli.
Damato intervened to lay out the protocol in situations like yesterday’s, via FCInterNews. He aimed to nip out any controversy around the goal in the bud.
There were one or two questions surrounding Inter’s opening goal against Empoli yesterday.
The problem was not with Federico Dimarco’s goal. The 26-year-old’s sweeping finish was certainly not from an offside position.
But striker Marcus Thuram did appear to be in a questionable position in the buildup.
The Frenchman received a long pass running off the shoulder of the Empoli defense.
VAR did take a look at the goal, as with every goal in Serie A. However, the VAR determined that there was no reason to disallow Dimarco’s strike.
And the reason was not necessarily that the VAR did not consider Thuram to be offside.
Rather, the 26-year-old striker’s position, onside or off, was not considered to be part of the relevant action due to a clearance by Empoli defender Bartosz Bereszynski prior to Dimarco’s goal.
Sabato Explains Why VAR Correct Not To Disallow Inter Opener Vs Empoli
Deputy of the Italian refereeing association Sabato explained that “The goal Inter scored, even if there was initially an offside situation, was part of another action.”
“Because Bartosz Bereszynski begins a new action by playing the ball.”
The refereeing official elaborates that the Polish defender started a new action because “The player is in full control of his body. He is not pressured or tackled.”
“Therefore, there’s a change of possession, and Inter’s goal is legal.”
“Even if Thuram were offside by a matter of millimetres, there is no room for VAR to intervene. Because it is part of a different action.”
“In cases like these, the assistant referees must keep their flags lowered,” Sabato continued. “Therefore the assistant referee here was correct.”
