Overview: Valeri’s role in Round 5 controversies
Paolo Valeri, the deputy president of the Greek refereeing body and VAR Manager, delivered his analysis of the most debated moments from the fifth round of the Stoiximan Super League. He stood in for Stefán Lanouá and addressed both the Gouma goal at the Piraeus stadium and the penalty decision against Panathinaikos, arguing that the latter should not have been awarded. Valeri highlighted that the on‑field official relied on a limited set of angles provided by the VAR and that the chosen footage did not give a complete view of the incident. He stressed that both the VAR and the match referee involved are international officials, underscoring the high level of scrutiny these decisions receive.
Key moments under the lens
The Gouma goal in Piraeus and the VAR angle issue
Valeri noted that when a system issue occurs, the referee must base the final decision on his own perception and on information from his assistant, which in this case proved misleading. The scoring of Gouma’s goal was affected by a limited angle provided by the VAR team, preventing a full, accurate assessment. He argued that the situation called for better coverage and more comprehensive replays to guarantee the correct ruling, especially in a high‑stakes league match.
The Panathinaikos penalty decision
Regarding the penalty awarded against Panathinaikos, Valeri described a sequence where the Panaitolikos attacker heads the ball and the Panathinaikos defender blocks, striking the ball first with the head and then with the hand away from the body. The ball changes trajectory and no longer heads toward the goal. Under standard guidelines, this is not a penalty. The VAR reportedly prompted the referee to review the play, but the footage shown focused on the hand contact rather than the head contact, leading the referee to perceive a clear foul. Valeri argued that the VAR should have presented broader angles and multiple replays to illustrate the head contact and the true dynamics of the play.
Other notable calls evaluated by Valeri
Valeri also commented on several other decisions: Sengelia was rightly sent off, and the change in Panteliadis’ card color in the OFI v. Kifisia match was appropriate. In the Asteras AKTOR v. PAOK game, the VAR correctly advised the referee to review a potential penalty for Fernandez on Chalov. In the match between AEL Novibet and Atromitos, a goal was appropriately disallowed, aligning with the officials’ on‑field assessment. These examples illustrate the ongoing challenge of ensuring consistent interpretations across matches and the importance of precise, multi‑angle reviews.
Takeaways for officials and fans
Valeri’s analysis reinforces the need for VAR to reinforce, not replace, on‑field judgment. He emphasized that accurate calls hinge on presenting comprehensive camera angles and clear replays that capture all elements of a play, including head contact, body positioning, and ball trajectory. For the Greek Super League, the message is simple: improve the quality and variety of angles shown to referees, maintain transparency in decision-making, and strive for consistency across rounds to preserve credibility with players, coaches, and fans.
