Top referee facing ban over claims of TV replay use

BUENOS AIRES: A top Argentinian referee is facing a ban after scraping a penalty and a red card after consulting with a linesman alleged to have seen the incident in slow motion on a television screen.

Video replays are not allowed by world football’s governing body FIFA and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) will examine the incident in a meeting today.

During an Argentine League clash at the weekend between Velez Sarsfield and Arsenal, match official German Delfino, considered one of South America’s top referees, awarded Velez a penalty and sent off Arsenal defender Daniel Valencia for handling the ball in the box.

However a television replay showed the ball was actually touched by a Velez player and not Valencia. He then overturned the decision.

Delfino, 36, tipped as a refereeing official for the Copa America which begins in June, apologised after the game for initially getting the decision wrong. It did not, however, prevent Velez from winning the match 2-1.

“This type of action is difficult to judge. The refereeing team worked well and justice was done,” said Miguel Scime, head of referee training in the Argentine League.

“Delfino assured me that he didn’t base his decision on the technology but what his assistants saw,” said Scime.

“You can’t deliver justice as you want,” said Guillermo Marconi, of the Argentine Referees Union.

“You have to act within the defined rules. I don’t have proof that Delfino based his decision (on the images), but it seems logical.”

Despite being cleared of the handball, Colombian defender Valencia was still sent off later in the match.