Fans left baffled by little-known VAR rule as Romania are awarded ‘ridiculous’ penalty against Slovakia

FANS were outraged by VAR handing Romania a penalty against Slovakia in their Euro 2024 crunch.

Razvan Marin’s spot-kick brought his side level before the break in a crucial Group E decider.

The referee gave a free-kick for this foul outside the box

GettyRomania drew level before half-time[/caption]

But viewers felt Slovakia were hard done by.

Ianis Hagi was brought down by David Hancko on the edge of the box and there was a second collision inside the area.

Referee Daniel Siebert initially gave a free-kick but VAR intervened and awarded a penalty without sending the official to the monitor.

One fan posted on X: “That Romania penalty is ridiculous lol.”

A second added: “There’s the slightest touch of his boot on his toe but even when that happens it’s outside the box, then he runs into the box and falls over.

“Crazy how VAR gave that and also didn’t even tell the Ref to check the monitor.”

A third added: “Disagree about penalty and also ref should have gone to the monitor not just accept what VAR said.

“Contact in the box initiated by Hagi, free-kick outside would have been correct decision.”

Did VAR make the right call by awarding this as a penalty? #BBCEuros #Euro2024 #SVKROU pic.twitter.com/CWnn5ZDjoM

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 26, 2024

The official explanation is that VAR is allowed to make an objective decision, such as correcting the referee when the contact was made in a different location.

In this case, the controversy surrounds the fact that the initial foul was outside the area with a second coming together inside the box which the official may have taken another view of.

The goal could have a huge impact on the race for the last 16.

All four teams in Group E began the day on three points, meaning the quartet can finish in any position.

Depending on the results of tonight’s Group F games, the third-placed team from Group E could play England in the last 16.

Thanks to their draw, Romania and Slovakia are both in the knockout phase.

The Romanians went through as group winners and Slovakia as one of the best third-placed teams.

Belgium finished second after a 0-0 draw with Ukraine, who were sent home in fourth.