Roberto Beccantini, in an editorial published in Corriere dello Sport, reflected on the episode of Jhon Lucumí's disallowed goal in the Juventus-Rennes match, 2-2, to question the still dominant role of human interpretation despite the use of VAR. The central point was Eliezer Mayenda's touch before the goal: whether the defender had played the ball in a controlled manner or whether it was a simple deflection. In the first case the goal would have been valid, in the second not. Referee Morten Krogh, called to VAR, decided to disallow the goal, and UEFA confirmed the correctness of the choice, highlighting that Mayenda was unable to "play the ball in a controlled manner".
Beccantini underlined how technology, while offering increasingly detailed images, cannot completely eliminate the interpretative component of football. “Technology still bows to the human eye,” he wrote, referring to the fact that, although VAR can clarify many situations, the final decision remains in the hands of the referee. The case divided the media: the Gazzetta dello Sport claimed that the goal was valid, while the Corriere dello Sport-Stadio confirmed the annulment. Furthermore, the referee had initially validated the goal and no Rennes player had protested, which accentuated the debate.
The author then extended the discussion to other areas where VAR has failed to erase controversies, citing Pongracic's disallowed goal in Fiorentina-Como after five minutes of evaluation and the ongoing controversy over handballs. According to Beccantini, the difficulty lies in the very nature of football, where factors such as position, body volume and distance do not always lead to automatic responses. Technological progress has certainly redefined the boundaries of arbitrage, but it has not eliminated interpretation.
In conclusion, the editorial underlines that, although technology drives progress and draws more precise lines, doubt remains vigilant. The final decision, in fact, always remains in the hands of the referee, who must evaluate whether a play is controlled or simply deviated. Beccantini concludes that football will continue to be a game of nuances, where technology is a tool, not a substitute for the human eye.