Under-21 Championship, UEFA welcomes Italy’s protests: VAR and Goal Line Technology from the quarterfinals | First page

Without raising its voice, the Italian Football Federation has decided to leak its position regarding the very serious refereeing episodes that occurred yesterday evening in the match between France and Italy of the Under 21 European Championship. A penalty kick denied due to handball by Kalulu, the winning goal of the transalpines spoiled by an impropriety and the even more sensational goal by Bellanova not validated despite the ball having crossed the goal line: a series of situations that escaped the attention of the Dutch referee Lindhout but on which – and this is where the controversy rages – it was not possible to make use of the technological contribution due to the foolish choice of UEFA not to endorse the use of VAR and Goal Line Technology for such an important event. Which in this edition of Romania and Georgia also assigns places to take part in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. UEFA CHANGES – Reasons that led the FIGC and its president Gabriele Gravina to informally express their “annoyance” against UEFA for the seriousness of the situation, which undermines the credibility of the entire tournament. And a first effect was caused by the complaints of the blue clan, given that the highest European body took note of what happened in one of the group stage cartel matches and decided to restore VAR and Goal Line Technology starting from the quarter-finals of this Under 21 European Championship. An almost obligatory decision after the incredible blunders of referee Lindhout, for which immediate measures have not been announced at the moment but for which a last-minute change with respect to the designation for the match between Spain and Holland scheduled for tomorrow.