Huge scandal at Farul – CFR Cluj: the hosts should have received two penalties » Expert's verdict
Article by Alexandru Tomuțiu – Published Saturday, February 28, 2026 10:19 p.m. / Updated Saturday, February 28, 2026 10:41 p.m.
The hosts should have been awarded two penalties in the match between Lighthouse and CFR Cluj, score 1-2, at the end of which Daniel Pancu's team qualified for the play-off.
The moment happened in the 90th+1st minute, when the Transylvanians were leading 2-1 and were one step away from victory and the play-offs. Cristi Ganea crossed into the Transylvanian box for Doicaru.
VIDEO. The controversial phase from Farul – CFR Cluj
Doicaru was pulled by Huja's shirt just before he headed back towards the goal. The Lighthouse player did not arrive in time to head the ball.
Florin Andrei did not award a penalty. Ionuț Coza and Sebastian Gheorghe analyzed the phase in the VAR room and decided not to call the “central” on the monitor. There was a throw-in from 6 meters for Cluj, to the displeasure of the public.
Marius Avram: “Farul should have received a penalty against CFR Cluj”
Former referee Marius Avram believes that Farul should have received a penalty at this stage and explained why.
“The referee hesitates a lot, he has his eyes turned towards the assistant, he was probably waiting for information if there was a hold on the shirt, that's what the assistant could have seen. He felt that something could happen, he didn't have all the elements, he waited for the intervention of his colleague, which did not come. You can see that the player is held by the shirt and twisted just as he was preparing to hit the ball for Farul.
A kick from 11 meters and a yellow card should have been awarded. It wasn't an imminent goal situation for it to be red. The assistant has no fault, he judged the offside situation. The referee has his back turned, then turns around and is surprised, you don't have to run with your back to the group of players waiting for the cross.
His positioning is poor. I think he should have been called by those in the VAR room, I am convinced that he would have awarded a penalty. They looked at the replay, I don't understand why they didn't call him to see, it's not explained to me, maybe they thought that this hold was not enough. I say there are enough elements to be called. The replays are very good.
I didn't see the Farul player holding his shirt either. A hand on the shirt from the defender can be clearly seen just as the striker was preparing to head. I also see a hand on Huja, but it's not that strong,” said Marius Avram, at Digi Sport.
Farul should have received a penalty against CFR Cluj
Another controversial phase also took place in the second half, in the 69th minute, when Matei Ilie headbutted Gustavo Marins. And at this stage, Avram said that a penalty should have been awarded.
“It's very important whether the defender is static or not. The striker clearly hits the ball and there is a clear movement of the defender's head. The defender has an obvious head movement towards the forward's head, who plays the ball correctly.
It is considered a direct header of the striker, then it is a shot from 11 meters. There were all the elements for the referee to be called to the side of the field to review the phase. It's a clear move towards the striker's head and it hits the striker's head,” the former referee added.
How the fight in the play-offs would have looked at the score of 2-2
If Farul had received a penalty and had scored, and the game had ended with a score of 2-2, CFR Cluj would still not have obtained access to the play-off.
Transylvania would have needed at least a draw with Dinamo, in the last stage of the regular season.
