The League Cup final presented the refereeing team with a game with many decisions (some difficult) from a technical point of view, and several others of a disciplinary nature. Overall, João Pinheiro and his team proved to be up to the circumstances.
Minute 33: Eduardo Quaresma, in his own area, disarms Schjelderup and the “red” attacker, already falling, tries to force the passage between the central/full-back and Diomande, and the latter opens his left arm and wraps it around the Norwegian’s waist, but without consequence and intensity for any infraction.
Minute 38: a yellow card was missing for Geny Catamo, who, when tackling in an attempt to play the ball, ends up, negligently, hitting the studs on Carreras’ left shin. It was necessary to show a yellow card to the Leo player.
Minute 40: well-marked penalty in favor of Sporting. On this occasion, Maxi Araújo is the only one who touches the ball when he receives it with his left foot. Florentino arrives late, doesn’t touch the ball and, with his left leg crossed in front of him, and then also with his hip, he ends up knocking down and tripping his opponent.
Minutes 45+1: Maxi Araújo, despite being grabbed and pressed from behind by Otamendi, commits incorrect attitude and behavior when, in order to free himself, he ends up deliberately opening his right arm and hitting the Argentine player in the neck and chin. Yellow card well shown.
Minute 47: with repetitions that are not very enlightening, the idea is that after the ball was crossed by Akturkoglu, João Simões, who misjudged the interception of the ball with his chest, ended up touching the ball with his left shoulder, although already almost in contact with the beginning of the arm. It’s true that he tries to remove his arm, close it and join it to his body, but it’s a dubious move. The VAR, with better images and the possibility of enlarging them, ordered it to continue, which leads to the idea that the ball had not completely touched the arm. Benefit of the doubt not to score a penalty.
Minute 58: yellow card clearly shown to Carreras, who ends up pushing Diomande with the game already interrupted, thus committing unsportsmanlike behavior.
Minute 64: the ball, after being kicked, touches Tomás Araújo and António Silva, but neither player touched the ball with their arm or hand, which is why the move was legal and without reason for a penalty.
Minute 90: Diomande, in the Sporting area and from the side, comes into contact with Di María, who ends up falling without there having been an infraction. Diomande, with Di María already off balance and falling, ends up touching the Argentine’s back with his left hand, but without any consequence or intensity. Legal move and no reason for a penalty.
