Manuel Ugarte avoids expulsion in controversial match against England.

The intense match between England and Uruguay, which ended in a 1-1 draw, brought to light a series of controversies, particularly regarding the behavior of referee Sven Jablonski and the decisions made during the game. The match, played last Friday, saw England, with a significantly altered lineup, struggle to maintain their lead after a series of questionable decisions left the Uruguayans on high alert.

At the 70-minute mark, Manchester United player Manuel Ugarte had a moment that could have changed the course of the game, committing a foul on English substitute Cole Palmer with a late and reckless challenge. Referee Jablonski, upon approaching the scene of the foul, did not hesitate to show a yellow card to the Uruguayan player. However, what followed was a series of events that left not only the players but also the commentators perplexed.

After the foul, although Ugarte was cautioned, the situation became even more complicated. From the moment the referee displayed a second yellow card towards the player, many believed that a red card was inevitable. However, an unexpected twist occurred: Ugarte remained on the field until he was substituted by Emiliano Martinez in the 87th minute, raising questions about the actual sanction applied.

The ITV commentators, Sam Matterface and Lee Dixon, revealed crucial information during the broadcast, stating that they received communication from the fourth official indicating that the second yellow card shown to Ugarte had been rescinded. This decision was particularly surprising, considering that VAR was in operation, but its new guidelines for overturning yellow cards had not yet been implemented, except for situations involving incorrectly sanctioned fouls. In this specific case, Ugarte’s infraction seemed clearly within the referee’s discretion on the field.

In an even more intriguing development, it was later claimed that the first yellow card, initially attributed to Ugarte for the foul on Palmer, had actually been shown to José Maria Gimenez for protesting the decision. This confusion over the cards only intensified the frustration surrounding the officiating, leaving the public and fans of the Uruguayan national team questioning the consistency of the decisions.

The match not only stood out for the tension on the field but also for how officiating decisions can impact the outcome of a game. The lack of clarity regarding the application of the rules and the use of VAR technology raised questions about the integrity of officiating in international matches. Ugarte’s performance thus became a symbol of a tumultuous night for Uruguay, which, despite securing a draw, left the field with the feeling that sporting justice had not been fully served.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.