Article by Alexandru Tomuțiu – Published Monday, October 20, 2025, 11:14 p.m. / Updated Monday, October 20, 2025, 11:19 p.m.
Controversial phase for the goal scored by Denis Radu in Petrol – CFR Clujscore 1-0, match from round number 13 in the Superliga.
In the 77th minute, Denis Radu, entered the pitch in the second half, managed to wave the net of Hindrich's goal. Sebastian Colțescu pointed to the center of the field, but the assistant raised the flag.
Denis Radu was inside the box, in a legal position. The ball went in front of Doumtsios but he didn't touch it and showed no interest in doing so. He brought his feet together and raised his hands, a sign that he did not want to influence the phase. However, it seems that the VAR referees also forgot to analyze the beginning of the goal phase. Cătălin Popa was the VAR referee and Cristina Trandafir was the assistant.
At the end, however, images appeared showing that the goal had to be cancelled. In the phase leading up to the success, Paul Papp, who is offside, jumps head to head with Matei Ilie and, even if he does not touch the ball, influences the phase. Ilie Dumitrescu was categorical after seeing the irregular position of the defender from Petrolul: “It's a bad result.”
“He influences an opponent and follows the goal phase. I think they forgot to analyze the moment, it's a more complex phase. He tries to play the ball, even if he doesn't touch it. Paul Papp jumps to the head, so it's offside. It's a big mistake, you can see with the naked eye”, said Marius Avram at Digisport.
And Constantin Zotta analyzed the goal phase: “Papp goes offside, goes to play the ball, influences the phase, even if he doesn't touch the ball. It's punishable. I don't think it's a ball played by Doumtsios. It's deflected by Ilie, he doesn't have control. It's a static phase, a free kick, the referee's position is a good one. Papp really makes Ilie uncomfortable. There's no explanation. In the second phase it's, for that appears to be a shot on goal, it is a deflection”, said the former referee, at Prima Sport.
Cătălin Popa and Cristina Trandafir were in the VAR room and analyzed the phase for almost 4 minutes. In the end, they came to the conclusion that the home striker did not influence the phase and informed Colțescu that the goal must be validated. “Centralul” showed the middle of the field, to the joy of the fans on “Ilie Oană”.
Starting teams in Petrolul – CFR:
Petrol (3-4-3): Bălbarău – Guilherme (Tolea '72), Papp, Roche – Veiga, Dongmo, Mateiu (Doukansy '58), Jyry, Sălceanu – Chică Roșă (Doumtsios '72), Grozav (V.Gheorghe '29) [D.Radu ’58]Unused reserves: Krell, Hanca, Boțogan, I. Paraschiv, Hermann, Onguene
Coach: Eugene Neagoe
CFR Cluj (3-5-2): Hindrich – Coco, Zouma (Fică '85), M. Ilie – Sfait (Biliboc '61), Emerllahu, T. Keita, Djokovic, Korenica (Cordea '61) – Slimani, Cernigoi (Abeid '61)
Unused reserves: Gal, Valceanu, Gyorgy, Sinyan, Kresic, Perianu, Păun, Badamosi
Coach: Andrea Mandorlini
