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Referee Stands by No‑Penalty Call After Correa Fall as VAR Says It Saw Same Play

Gariano's account raises questions about VAR checks and referee oversight across Argentine football.

Overview

  • Tigre beat River 1-0 after Ángel Correa fell in the box and referee Andrés Gariano declined to award a penalty, saying the VAR cabina quickly confirmed his on-field view.
  • River players and coach Eduardo Coudet publicly protested the decision, with captain Nicolás Otamendi calling it a clear non-call and demanding accountability from match officials.
  • Commentators split over the interpretation: Juan Pablo Varsky defended his live read that he saw no decisive contact, while former referee Javier Castrilli demanded Gariano be removed from Primera and other pundits traded barbs.
  • The AFA posted then deleted an X message that used the disputed image of the play, a move that intensified scrutiny of how institutions handle controversial match incidents.
  • The episode compounds River's string of poor results and leaves broader questions about VAR protocol, referee review and possible disciplinary steps unresolved with no formal action announced.