The Betplay League match between Fortaleza and América de Cali ended in a 0-0 draw, but the real talking point was the controversial referee decisions regarding two fouls. The referee, Jorge Duarte, and the VAR judges made different calls when evaluating two potential red card offenses.
In the first incident, Luis Paz of América de Cali was shown a red card for a dangerous challenge on Roger Andretty’s ankle. The decision was reviewed by the VAR, leading to Paz’s expulsion without much contention.
However, in a similar incident involving Ronaldo Pájaro of Fortaleza, the outcome was quite different. Despite a clear foul that also warranted a red card, Pájaro was surprisingly shown a yellow card instead.
This inconsistency in referee decisions raised questions about a potential double standard in officiating. Analyst José Rail criticized the referees for not applying the same standard to both incidents and called for the VAR audios to be reviewed for clarity.
The match between Fortaleza and América de Cali may have ended without goals, but the referee controversy certainly left a lasting impact on the game’s outcome and fans’ perceptions.