VAR Review of McKennie’s Handball in Monza-Juventus Match: Expert Analysis

During the recent Monza-Juventus match, a controversial handball incident involving Weston McKennie occurred near the penalty area. The referee, Massa, did not call for a penalty, and VAR did not intervene. This decision has been scrutinized on a popular sports analysis program.

The VAR team’s audio revealed their decision-making process: “We need to check if the ball touches the Serie A patch on the jersey. If it does, it’s not a penalty. Okay, it hits the patch. Check complete.”

Dino Tommasi, a member of the Italian Referees Association, provided expert commentary on the incident. He explained, “There’s a green zone and a red zone on the player’s body. The Serie A patch is in the green zone, which is considered part of the shoulder. Therefore, it’s correct not to award a penalty.”

Tommasi further elaborated, “While the images aren’t entirely conclusive, the VAR team handled the situation well. We could say it’s a 51-49% decision, but to overturn the on-field ruling, there needs to be a clear and obvious error, which wasn’t the case here.”

This incident highlights the complexities of handball decisions in modern football and the crucial role of VAR in assisting referees during high-stakes matches.