Coach Hansi Flick quickly dismissed the ruling as the “wrong decision,” though Carlos Clos Gomez, the director of VAR for the Referees Technical Committee in Spain, recently shot down the criticism surrounding the ruling.
“It’s a normal explanation,” Gomez insisted. “There was a possible offside; the technology came in, and it was assessed as offside, there’s little else to say.”
The controversy surrounding VAR dates back to the technology’s inception, though cries for reform across Europe’s top five leagues have grown louder over recent campaigns. While most football fans would agree that the game is better off with a VAR system, decisions like Sundays add to the increasing frustration surrounding the technology’s stringency.
From the initial images displayed throughout the Anoeta Stadium, it appeared that the technology had mistaken the defender’s boot for Lewandowski’s toe, which would’ve only been a fraction offside. However, Gomez explained that VAR reaffirmed the decision after the match had concluded.
"Many times, it is criticized out of ignorance. It works with ten additional cameras, [with] 29 points tracked on each of the players… the referee was informed and the decision taken was changed."Carlos Gomez (VAR Director)
Real Sociedad swiftly seized momentum after the overturned goal, taking command of the match through Sheraldo Becker’s goal in the 33rd minute. The quick turnaround rattled the Blaugrana, who watched their seven-match win streak come to a screeching halt as they failed to find the back of the net for the first time all season.
While Barcelona will feel the sting of not extending their winning form into the international break, the extended rest will serve them well. Now, the team must prepare for a rigorous stretch ahead, one that will demand both peak fitness and unwavering mental toughness.