Moreno credits Bayern for keeping PSG tie alive in Paris (1:18)Ale Moreno was impressed to see Bayern Munich keep the tie against PSG alive after falling 5-2 down in Paris. (1:18)
Andy DaviesMultiple AuthorsApr 28, 2026, 06:09 PM ET
Video assistant referee causes controversy every week whether it be the Premier League, Champions League or FA Cup, but how are decisions made and are they correct?
Andy Davies (@andydaviesref) is a former Select Group referee, with over 12 seasons on the elite list, working across the Premier League and Championship. With extensive experience at the elite level, he has operated within the VAR space in the Premier League and offers a unique insight into the processes, rationale and protocols that are delivered on a Premier League matchday.
Referee: Sandro Schärer VAR: Carlos del Cerro Grande Time: 45+ minutes Incident: VAR overturn. Penalty awarded for handball.
What happened: PSG forward Ousmane Dembélé’s attempted cross struck the arm of Bayern’s Alphonso Davies. Referee Sandro Schärer waved away the original penalty appeals; however, VAR asked him to review his decision on the monitor. After some consideration, Schärer changed his initial decision and pointed to the spot.
VAR decision: VAR recommended an on-field review to the referee for a possible penalty. Having viewed the incident, VAR felt that the deliberate movement of Davies’ left arm, away from his body, made his body shape unnaturally bigger. Despite the ball deflecting off the Bayern defender’s body first, both the referee and the VAR felt this met the criteria for a handball offence and a penalty was awarded.
Verdict: This will be viewed as an incredibly harsh decision on Bayern Munich, given the short distance the ball traveled and its deflection off the body of the defender and on to his arm. I have enormous sympathy for them in this incident. However, the handball law is currently written in a way that allows open interpretation when the ball initially deflects off a body part.
My feeling is that UEFA will not be too keen on this as a penalty award, despite the lower bar applied for handballs in their competitions. It’s worth noting this is a situation that would not be penalized in the Premier league, and it was ultimately a key moment in deciding this game.
Moreno credits Bayern for keeping PSG tie alive in Paris (1:18)Ale Moreno was impressed to see Bayern Munich keep the tie against PSG alive after falling 5-2 down in Paris. (1:18)
Ale Moreno was impressed to see Bayern Munich keep the tie against PSG alive after falling 5-2 down in Paris. (1:18)