Peru's Liga 1 faces VAR controversy during Clausura Tournament

Controversies surrounding refereeing and VAR interventions marked the seventh round of the 2026 Clausura Tournament in Peru's Liga 1. During a match between Sport Boys and Sporting Cristal, referee Augusto Menéndez used VAR to upgrade a yellow card to a red card for Catriel Cabellos following a heavy challenge on Christian Cueva. The dismissal allowed Sport Boys to secure a 1-0 victory, marking their first win against Sporting Cristal in 19 years and moving them to third place in the standings.

The match has reignited debates regarding the consistency of VAR criteria and the uniformity of decision-making among officials in Peruvian football.