Serie A referee uses VAR to disallow SPAL goal and award Fiorentina a penalty in same decision

Video review changed the course of a Serie A match in Italy on Sunday when, for the first time, a goal was disallowed and a penalty awarded to the opposing team in the same decision.

SPAL thought it had gone 2-1 ahead when Mattia Valoti scored on the counter-attack but the referee viewed a previous incident on VAR and opted to award Fiorentina a penalty for Dias Felipe’s trip on Federico Chiesa moments earlier.

The decision, which came more than four minutes after the foul, made everything that had followed null and void, including Valoti’s goal.

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VAR changed the course of a Serie A match between SPAL and Fiorentina on Sunday

Fiorentina winger Federico Chiesa (centre, red kit) is tripped in the area by SPAL’s Dias Felipe

Chiesa is sent tumbling to the ground but play is waved on by match official Luca Pairetto

Moments later, Mattia Valoti (No 8) scores for SPAL down the other end to make it 2-1

However, Pairetto consults VAR and awards Fiorentina a penalty for the trip on Chiesa

Jordan Veretout converted the penalty as Fiorentina took the lead for the first time.

Andrea Petagna originally gave the hosts the lead in the first half before Edimilson Fernandes equalised on the stroke of half time.

Fiorentina went on to win the match 4-1 as Giovanni Simeone and Gerson added two goals in the final 10 minutes. 

The referee’s decision means that SPAL’s second goal is null and void as players complain

Jordan Veretout converted the penalty as Fiorentina took the lead for the first time

Veretout celebrates scoring his side’s second goal before Fiorentina go on to win the game 4-1

This scenario has been a possibility since VAR was introduced at the start of the 2017-18 season in Italy but it is the first time it has actually happened.

Similar incidents have happened before in both the MLS and the Eredivisie.

The result sees Fiorentina leapfrog both Sampdoria and Torino into eighth while the defeat for SPAL leaves them four points above the relegation zone.