Juan Cuadrado said Juventus are ‘angry’ that the VAR monitor wasn’t working in the 1-1 draw with Bologna. ‘I don’t think it’s a coincidence, there have been too many incidents against us.’
The Bianconeri went behind at the Stadio Dall’Ara when Riccardo Orsolini was brought down by Danilo and converted the penalty.
However, as the VAR on-field review monitor was not working, the decision to award a spot-kick was made directly by the VAR Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni, even though referee Simone Sozza had initially waved play on.
Although a break from regular protocol, this is permissible under the rules when technical difficulties make the on-field review impossible.
“There are some regrets over the match, it was important for us to win. We created so many chances, but in the end were not lethal enough in the penalty area,” Cuadrado told DAZN.
“We are also a little angry, because at this level of the sport to know the monitor isn’t working, that ruins all the work we do on the field. I think there was a clear foul earlier in the move and the referee could not go to see it. It makes it difficult for us.”
It is also fair to say that the on-field review of the challenge in the build-up would only happen if the VAR recommended it, and in this case Mazzoleni did not seem inclined to do so.
The monitor was not working from the start of the match and both coaches had been informed, also kept up to date when it was finally fixed at around the hour mark.
“I don’t think it is a coincidence, as there have already been too many incidents against us. We have to keep going, referees are human too and they make mistakes.”
Juventus also received a penalty via the VAR, but in this case it was standard protocol, because the referee had given a free kick for Jhon Lucumi’s foul on Arkadiusz Milik, but the technology confirmed it was in fact inside the box.
“At times you go behind in matches, and with the quality players we have and the strength given by the coach to get the result after a pretty difficult campaign, we all push to keep going. This is the strength of Juve, we go up against everything,” added Cuadrado.
“There are still many games to go, we must give our best and have the quality to get the results we need.”