VAR Audio reveals details of Barcelona midfielder’s sending off against Sevilla – ‘That is dangerous’ | OneFootball

Fermin Lopez made a significant impact when he came on in the second half during Barcelona’s 4-1 win against Sevilla. Although he spent only a brief time on the pitch, he played a crucial role in the game’s outcome.

After replacing Gavi at the start of the second half, Fermin demonstrated his knack for making timely runs and scored the breakthrough goal that shifted the momentum in Barcelona’s favour.

However, his time on the field took a dramatic turn when he was sent off following a contentious challenge.

The VAR conversation

Initially, referee Hernandez Hernandez deemed the incident a simple foul and issued a yellow card. However, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team, led by Del Cerro Grande, intervened and recommended a review for possible serious foul play.

“I recommend a review for a potential serious rough play,” said the VAR official.

Del Cerro Grande advised Hernandez Hernandez to assess the challenge closely, highlighting the dynamics of the tackle. He pointed out the high leg position, the bending motion of the leg, and the speed at which Fermin approached the tackle.

“I’m going to leave it to you in dynamics so you can see how he makes the tackle and how he goes with his high leg and his leg bends and the speed he has.”

According to Del Cerro Grande, the tackle created a dangerous situation, with the Sevilla player’s leg getting caught and twisting unnaturally.

“In our opinion, the leg gets caught and twists dangerously for the Sevilla player,” he added.

Upon reviewing the footage, Hernandez Hernandez quickly made up his mind. He noted that Fermin’s challenge involved both legs in a scissor-like motion and displayed a lack of body control, making it hazardous.

“Yes, he goes with both legs in the shape of scissors. It comes in very strong, lack of control of the body. That is dangerous. I’m going to change the yellow to the number 16 for a red one.”

Consequently, the referee upgraded the initial yellow card to a straight red. Despite being down to ten players, though, Barcelona maintained their composure and managed to win the game.