VAR controversy erupts as Uruguayan referee expels Saravia
Uruguayan referee Anahí Fernández sparked a VAR controversy when she expelled Progreso defender Marco Saravia in the 30th minute of Nacional's 1‑0 Clausura win at Gran Parque Central, a decision that ignited debate over the legality of the VAR intervention.
First‑half controversy
At 29 minutes of the first half, Fernández cautioned Saravia with a yellow card for a foul, recorded at 29:43 on the match clock. Seconds later the Peruvian defender committed a second infringement, which the referee did not initially spot, allowing play to continue.
The ball then rolled to a corner after Renzo Bacchia saved a shot from Maxi Gómez, setting the stage for the referee’s next decision. At 30 minutes and 53 seconds, Fernández issued a second yellow to Saravia, sending him off, after being advised by VAR official Jonathan Fuentes. The referee did not consult the monitor before applying the sanction.
According to the official Tenfield broadcast, Jonathan Fuentes informed Fernández that a second yellow should be shown, a move that contradicted the VAR protocol which expressly forbids informing a referee of a yellow‑card situation, whether it is the first or second.
Coach reaction and aftermath
Progreso coach Tabaré Silva complained, stating: "I never speak about officiating, but today it was disastrous. The main referee and the VAR as well, because I believe the VAR has no authority to call a second yellow in an action that was not a foul."
Tenfield’s commentary echoed the view that the VAR judge prompted the referee to apply the yellow, and local press highlighted the incident as a clear breach of VAR regulations.
Despite the controversy, Nacional secured a 1‑0 victory, with the decisive goal scored by Maxi Silvera. The match also marked the debut of Daniel Carreño as Nacional’s head coach.
The episode underscored the ongoing debate in Uruguay about the proper use of VAR, especially after the protocol explicitly prohibits VAR officials from signalling a yellow‑card offence to the on‑field referee.
The incident remains a focal point of discussion among officials, clubs and fans, illustrating the challenges of integrating technology within the traditional refereeing framework in Uruguayan football.