Former Serie A defender Daniele Adani believes Belgium deserved a penalty kick in the second half for an Alessandro Bastoni foul on Lois Openda: ‘The only explanation is incompetent VAR.’
Italy were held to a 2-2 draw at the Stadio Olimpico by Belgium last night, but the Azzurri dominated the game before Lorenzo Pellegrini was given a straight red card after a VAR check on the pitchside monitor.
It was a busy night for referee Espen Eskas and his assistants as Belgium appealed for a penalty kick in the second half for a Bastoni foul on Openda.
The referee awarded the visitors a corner kick, but play was stopped for several minutes to allow VAR officials to investigate the incident. Eskas wasn’t even urged to the pitchside monitor, and the game resumed with a Belgium corner kick.
Italian pundit slams ‘incompetent’ VAR as Belgium denied penalty
Italian pundits and media believe the Azzurri were lucky to avoid a penalty kick, especially because Belgium had just scored the equaliser.
“The only explanation is an incompetent VAR official,” Rai Sport pundit Adani said last night after the game.
“If it had happened against us, we’d still be protesting on the pitch.”
Corriere dello Sport also admits Italy were ‘lucky’ to avoid a penalty kick for Belgium and that VAR ‘helped’ the Azzurri.
Nevertheless, Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco refused to complain after the full-time whistle last night.
“It was an intense match, it became difficult for the referee to deal with in the second half too,” said the Italian tactician.
“If you were going to give a penalty for that, you should also have had a red card for Bastoni. In any case, I don’t want to talk about the referee.”
