Admitted Error by Russian Referees in Zenit Game
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In a surprising turn of events, the Russian Football Union (RFU) has owned up to a refereeing blunder in the 27th round clash between Zenit St. Petersburg and Pari Nizhny Novgorod, played on May 4.
The controversy centered around a critical moment when Kerill Gotsuk, a Nizhny Novgorod defender, inadvertently handled the ball, caught up in a skirmish with Zenit striker Alexander Sobolev. Despite Gotsuk's infraction taking place within his own penalty area, and an unintended handball warranting a penalty under normal circumstances, the match referee, Sergei Karasev, failed to spot the foul. Additionally, the VAR system similarly overlooked the incident.
Even so, the RFU's refereeing department admitted an oversight: "Gotsuk makes a dodgy move towards the ball, which impedes Sobolev. The defender's hand position is questionable and can be penalized. The VAR misjudged the game situation and didn't intervene in Karasev's call. The appropriate decision should've been a foul, a penalty."
Although Zenit eventually secured a 2:1 victory, the overlooked penalty could potentially impact the championship race. Presently, Zenit trails leaders Krasnodar by a mere point, holding 60 points. The upcoming fixtures, Zenit vs Rostov and Akhmat, offer opportunities for each team to earn a maximum of 6 points. Zenit, having converted 5 out of 6 penalties this season, may have benefited from the missed call.
Sergei Karasev is a well-established Russian referee, with experience in Euro 2020, the Champions League, and the World Cup. The acknowledged error casts doubts on his integrity, with his appointment to officiate the 28th round match between CSKA and Krasnodar sparking debate among fans and experts.
Despite the incident involving Kerill Gotsuk's handball not being penalized during the match, it is worth noting that a penalty in such a crucial game could have significantly influenced the outcome. Additionally, considering Zenit's impressive record of converting penalties this season, this overlooked instance in the European leagues, particularly the Premier League, might have altered their standing in the championship race.
