All Boys and Godoy Cruz match sparks controversy over mobile phone video review

A match between All Boys and Godoy Cruz in Argentina's Primera Nacional has sparked widespread controversy following an unusual officiating incident dubbed ‘celuVAR’. During the final minutes of the match, referee Nicolás Lamolina initially awarded a penalty to Godoy Cruz and issued a red card to All Boys defender Iván Zafarana.

In the absence of official VAR technology in the league, All Boys players and staff protested by showing the referee video replays of the incident on a mobile phone. After a lengthy delay of approximately 23 minutes, Lamolina reversed his decision, awarding a free kick instead of a penalty.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) issued a statement clarifying that the decision was changed based on information provided by assistant referee Agustín Méndez, who indicated the foul occurred outside the penalty area. However, Lamolina noted the complexity of the situation, stating he made a significant effort not to let the mobile phone images directly influence his judgment. The match ultimately ended in a 0-0 draw.