EXPLAINED: Why Victor Osimhen was not awarded penalty kick after Pau Cubarsi clip
Spanish referee Mateu Lahoz weighed in with explanaton to the penalty incident involving Victor Osimhen and Pau Cubarsi during the recent Champions League clash between Napoli and Barcelona.
Barcelona emerged victorious with a 3-1 win over Napoli, but the game was not without controversy.
In the 50th minute, Napoli had a potential penalty claim when Cubarsi appeared to clip Osimhen in the box. However, the decision by Dutch referee Danny Desmond Makkelie to wave off the penalty was backed by VAR.
Mateo Lahoz’s Perspective: Following the match, renowned Spanish referee Mateo Lahoz shared his thoughts on the incident. While acknowledging that a penalty could have been awarded for Cubarsi’s tackle on Osimhen, Lahoz commended the decision not to give it.
Lahoz remarked, “Cubarsi’s tackle on Osimhen could perhaps be called a penalty kick, but not in the Champions League. That’s what I like about the competition; I hope we can learn that in Spain.”
Contrast in Officiating: Lahoz highlighted a key difference in officiating between the Champions League and La Liga. He explained that incidents like Cubarsi’s minimal contact on Osimhen, which might be considered penalties in Spain’s top flight, are often not given in the Champions League. This leniency in officiating, Lahoz argued, is appropriate for the competition.
Cubarsi’s contact on Osimhen was minimal, but contact still, and according to Lahoz, incidents like that are ruled as penalties in the Spanish top flight, so much so that it has earned a term, ‘penaltitos’, directly translated into English as little penalties.
Osimhen’s Previous Experience: Osimhen himself had benefited from this leniency in the first leg of the clash, where he made slight contact with Barcelona’s Inigo Martinez, resulting in the equalizing goal. Despite protests from Martinez and his teammates, the goal stood, reflecting the Champions League officials’ tendency to require more substantial contact before calling fouls.
Overall, Lahoz’s comments shed light on the differences in officiating standards between domestic leagues like La Liga and prestigious tournaments like the Champions League, emphasising the importance of consistency and adaptability for players and officials alike.
