In São Paulo, a Copa Sudamericana tie between São Paulo and Boca Juniors ended level on the night but with the Argentine visitors progressing 2-1 on aggregate. The match, however, left the home side with a grievance centred on a VAR decision late in the second half.
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São Paulo believed they had drawn level in the 69th minute, a goal that would have left them more than 20 minutes to find the strike needed to overturn the overall deficit. Instead, the effort involving Ryan Francisco was ruled out for offside after a video review.
The controversy grew after the match broadcast showed officials in the VAR room drawing the lines used to judge Francisco’s position. One of the referees could be heard saying: “You move it, and I’ll tell you.”
That exchange prompted anger among São Paulo supporters, who questioned the reliability and apparent subjectivity of the process used to invalidate the goal. With the score remaining 1-1, Boca Juniors saw out the tie and advanced with a 2-1 aggregate victory.
The episode has renewed scrutiny of how offside technology is applied in major South American knockout matches, particularly when line placement can decide a club’s continental campaign.
