Peru outrage against the referee for validating controversial play

Lima, 24 Mar A wave of indignation spread over Peruvian fans after the South American qualifying match against Uruguay, which ended with a 1-0 victory for Celeste, considering that Brazilian referee Anderson Daronco did not review a controversial play that could mean the draw for the red white. The word “robbery” was the one chosen by fans on social media to describe the fact that the referee did not prove in the VAR that a shot by Peruvian Miguel Trauco was saved by the Uruguayan goalkeeper when he had apparently already entered the rival goal. In the streets, restaurants and parks of Lima where fans gathered to enjoy the Qatar 2022 qualifying match, there was also anger and disappointment that the national team lost in a way they considered unfair. “It's not fair, this referee stole from us, that goal is made, the VAR didn't work for Peru,” a fan dressed in red white complained to Efe. “They stole the match in our face, that was a goal, but there is a karma,” added another girl who came with other fans to barrage for the Argentine team led by Ricardo Gareca. The controversy did not escape Peruvian politicians and ruling party legislator Guillermo Bermejo commented on Twitter: “That referee must be a Fujimorist. There is no other explanation for this robbery.” Even the president of the Congress, the opposition María del Carmen Alva, added on the same social network: “We have been robbed. It's incredible that the VAR hasn't reviewed the Peruvian goal.” “Our team deserves to go to the world championship and we have to support until the end. Let's go Peru,” he said. With this victory, Uruguay won its spot at the Qatar 2022 World Cup a date before the South American qualifiers end, while White Red is fifth and has the first option of getting into the repechage against an Asian country. The match for matchday 17, which was played at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo, celebrated the fans of La Celeste who, thanks to Giorgian De Arrascaeta's only goal in the 42nd minute, anticipated their place in the World Cup event at the end of the year. Those led by Diego Alonso take fourth place in the table with 25 points and won the last place with direct entry to the World Cup, while Ricardo Gareca's team follow them in the table with 21 points. On the last date of the South American qualifiers, which will be played this Tuesday, March 29, Peru hosts Paraguay and Uruguay will visit Chile.