UEFA are set to make a rule change half way through the Under-21 European Championships following shocking decisions in the Italy vs France game.
Until now, there has been no use of VAR or goal-line technology during the tournament in Romania and Georgia, but that looks set to change.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Uefa are now planning on introducing VAR into the competition from the quarter-finals onwards.
This comes after the referee, Allard Lindhout, was the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons following Italy’s loss to France yesterday.
Lindhout seemed to miss an number of different flashpoints which were spotted by those watching the game, including a foul in the build up to France’s winner on Caleb Okoli and a handball by Pierre Kalulu in his own box.
Perhaps most infuriatingly though was also a ‘ghost goal’ that the Dutch referee missed, when Raoul Bellanova scored an equaliser in the dying embers of the match.
READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
However, neither Lindhout or his assistant saw the ball cross the line.
The apparent mistakes meant that France wound up 2-1 winners, leaving Italy boss Paolo Nicolato fuming with the decisions.
Speaking to Sky Italy after the game, he said: “I don’t expect the referee’s apologies, he too won’t be satisfied with himself.
“The impression I get is that the referees are used to using VAR; without it, they no longer know how to make decisions quickly.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
“I think a referee who makes his passion his job, if he reviews the match, is the first not to be satisfied with himself.”
He went on to say: “I’m sorry to go back to it, but it’s not just a question of VAR.
“There have been some episodes that have little to do with VAR and that the whole stadium saw without the need for VAR.
“I’m referring in particular to the foul on Okoli which happened in front of me and there was both the fourth official and the linesman.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
