Article by Ovidiu Ioanițoaia – Published Wednesday, 05 November 2025, 15:49 / Updated Wednesday, 05 November 2025 15:49
Despite the general opinion that Istvan Kovacs and his brigade managed well to very well the match won by Liverpool on Tuesday night in front of Real Madrid, 1-0, part of the Spanish media rushed to point the finger at the “central” from Carei. which news portal Defensa Centralone of Real's regular “lawyers”, accused him of “Four possible penalties that he didn't whistle”! Obviously, in favor of the people of Madrid!
In my opinion and not only, just one of the four would be analyzed. The one in the 40th minute, when Vinicius Jr. dribbled past Bradley and the Englishman hit the Brazilian in the face with his hand. No one can dispute that there was contact in that duel. He was seen with the naked eye, only that the referees (including the ones from VAR, a German and a Swiss) appreciated that the shot did not have intensity and, as such, it was not necessary to award an 11 meters. Opinion shared by most specialists.
Moreover, those in the VAR room did not feel the need to intervene in the conditions in which, excellently placed, the “central” controlled the moment well.
An even more controversial phase occurred in the 30th minute, with Kovacs adjudging Tchouameni to have fouled Szoboszlai's shot with his hand. Since Tchouameni was in the box or on the 16-meter line, the VAR referees sent Istvan to the monitor. Where the Romanian, carefully studying the action, decided that Real's French midfielder did not commit a foul, Tchouameni having his hand next to his body and in a normal position. He didn't move it in the direction of the ball.
Istvan Kovacs, at the VAR monitor / photo Imago Images
Precisely because the sequence in question gave rise to conflicting discussions, with opinions different from Kovacs's, UEFA saw fit to clarify things and came to its website, promptly, with an official clarification. According to which “It's not a handball. The ball touched the left arm of Real Madrid's number 14 (na Tchouameni), but it was close to the body, in a natural position.”
If we note, with satisfaction, that UEFA has won Kovacs' cause, let us also note that, unlike the CCA, which usually remains silent in questionable situations and keeps its head in the ground, UEFA was quick to clarify things. Vassaras and ilk should follow suit, right?
