The penalty denied to Inter against Fiorentina, due to contact between Viery and Thuram, also sparked a heated debate in the Sky studios. Luca Marchegiani has expressed his frustration by saying that VAR appears to "no longer feel authorized to intervene" in situations where visibility is clear. According to the commentator, the penalty not awarded to Frattesi in the Lazio-Parma match, after an obvious touch not seen by the referee, highlights the ineffectiveness of the video review system, which was introduced precisely to avoid errors of this type.
Marchegiani highlighted that the management of VAR on both occasions appears inconsistent, referring to the fact that the referee did not recognize the visible infringements. “VAR was created to correct referee errors, but in these cases it appears not to have been activated,” he explained, highlighting the frustration of many observers who saw the infringements clearly.
The Viery-Thuram case had immediate repercussions on the outcome of the match, with Inter missing a crucial free-kick opportunity. Fiorentina, however, maintained their victory, consolidating their position in the standings. The VAR decision fueled controversy among fans and analysts, who called for a review of the intervention rules.
As for its future prospects, VAR continues to be a subject of discussion. The football authorities are evaluating possible changes to ensure greater transparency and consistency in decisions. In the meantime, the teams involved will have to deal with the consequences of this episode in future matches, with the hope that the video review system will improve the fairness of the game.