During Manchester United’s Europa League match against Sevilla, Erik Lamela was involved in a controversial incident where he appeared to stamp on Casemiro. The incident occurred just before the break, and video replays suggested that there was contact from Lamela. However, despite the potential severity of the incident, Lamela escaped a red card.
Casemiro, who was returning to the team after a domestic ban, was having a top performance in midfield. He put his body on the line as he dived in to win a tackle, despite Lamela approaching quickly from the side. Casemiro got to the ball first, but Lamela failed to get out of the way and ended up clattering into the Brazilian, who was already on the ground.
Casemiro writhed in agony as he grabbed his leg before rolling his sock down. Furious United stars surrounded the ref claiming there had been more serious contact from Lamela, who had already been shown a yellow. VAR quickly intervened as the stadium announcer confirmed a red card check.
Video replays appeared to show Lamela stamping on Casemiro as his foot came out. But after several checks, VAR officials decided against sending off the Spurs loanee. The decision left United fans incensed, with many feeling Casemiro would have been given a straight red if the shoe was on the other foot.
If Casemiro had made that foul on Lamela, he would have gotten a life sentence by the way. We all know if that Lamela tackle was the other way round, Casemiro would be getting a straight red. Anyway, Casemiro would have gotten a red if he was the one that did that to Lamela. Regarding that Lamela tackle on Casemiro; if the roles were reversed, Casemiro gets a straight red. No doubt.
The incident highlights the ongoing debate around VAR and its effectiveness in ensuring fair play. While some argue that VAR has helped to reduce the number of incorrect decisions made by referees, others believe that it has led to a loss of spontaneity and emotion in the game.
Regardless of the debate around VAR, it is clear that incidents like the one involving Lamela and Casemiro will continue to be scrutinized by fans and pundits alike. As football continues to evolve, it is important that the sport finds a balance between technology and tradition, ensuring that the game remains fair and exciting for all involved.