FC Voluntari promoted to the Superliga, after receiving two controversial penalties against Hermannstadt
Article by Alexandru Tomuțiu – Published Monday, June 01, 2026 10:26 p.m. / Updated Monday, June 01, 2026 10:28 p.m.
Those from FC Voluntari scored twice in the second half tie with Hermannstadt (3-0, 5-3 overall)but the replays of the phases from which the two penalties from which he scored are not convincing at all.
After 3-2 in Sibiu, the Hermannstadt team needed at least a draw to stay in the Superliga in the following season, without the need for overtime.
The first controversial phase came immediately after the break, in the 48th minute. Schieb threw a ball into the box, where Mihai Roman, the Ilfoven striker, was waiting. He was in a duel with Karo, the stopper of the Sibiu, who put a hand on Roman, and it fell. Neither of them touched the ball.
VIDEO. The first phase in which FC Voluntari received a penalty against Hermannstadt
However, it did not appear that the striker went down due to contact with Karo. Szabolcs Kovacs immediately awarded the penalty, and Cătălin Popa and Valentin Porumbel did not call him to the VAR monitor to review the phase. Babic converted in the 50th minute, making it 1-0 for the Volunteers.
The second phase in which FC Voluntari received a penalty against Hermannstadt
The second phase in which Voluntari received a penalty had Remus Gutea and Luca Stancu in the foreground (minute 73). After a nice run by Gutea, the Voluntari player fell in the box when he collided with Stancu.
Replays cannot clearly confirm whether there was clear contact between the two footballers' legs. And this time, Kovacs junior gave a penalty, and those in the VAR room did not intervene. Babic scored again from the penalty spot.
