The controversy in the Atlas vs. América match on Matchday 10 of the 2024 Clausura Tournament has stirred up strong reactions among fans and analysts alike.
During the heated game, an expulsion and a penalty were awarded in favor of América just before the end of the first half, following a handball incident involving Diego Valdés, the azulcrema player. Although there was no dispute that a handball had taken place, questions arose about the validity of the subsequent decisions made by the referees.
The Referees Commission of the Mexican Soccer Federation stepped in to address the situation and clarify the reasoning behind the decisions made by central referee Fernando Guerrero. The Commission backed up their stance with the VAR communication audios, providing insight into the thought process behind the controversial calls.
In the incident in question, Valdés appeared to handle the ball after chesting it down, before passing it to Henry Martín. As Martín attempted to score, Anderson Santamaría intervened with a deliberate handball, leading to the penalty and Santamaría’s expulsion.
However, some have argued that Valdés’ initial handball should have nullified the subsequent events. The VAR audios revealed that the decision was based on regulations implemented in June 2021, which state that not all offensive handballs in the penalty area are considered fouls.
In this instance, it was determined that Valdés’ handball was not deliberate, and the subsequent goal-scoring attempt by Martín did not directly follow the handball. As a result, the penalty and Santamaría’s expulsion were deemed valid according to the rules in place.
As the debate continues to rage on, the controversy in the Atlas vs. América match serves as a reminder of the complexity and subjectivity involved in officiating decisions in football.