Hilarious Moment As Referee Is Forced to Use a Phone to Check VAR Penalty Call

• FC Porto were denied a late penalty in their Liga tie against Arouca after a VAR call
• The centre referee used a mobile phone to contact a VAR official before ruling
• The reigning league champions would grab a late equaliser to keep their unbeaten run

Referee Miguel Nogueira was the star of the show in the Portugal Primeira League match between Porto and Arouca after using his mobile phone during a VAR check.

With Porto trailing 1-0 at home and pushing for an equaliser, the centre referee raised their hopes further in the 90th minute when he awarded a penalty to the hosts.

According to AS Soccer, Nogueira was then called over to the pitchside monitor to verify the decision but seemed unable to communicate with the VAR hub due to a technical error.

The match official finally received a cell phone after a protracted delay. After discussing the potential penalty with his other officials, he reversed his initial decision, sparking huge protests among the Porto players.

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The game would eventually end 1-1 after Porto finally found the equaliser in the 18th minute of added time as Brazilian forward Evanilson was on hand to poke the ball home from close range.

Porto calls for game to be cancelled

Meanwhile, Porto are demanding their result against Arouca be cancelled as they claim their Primeira League tie this weekend was filled with too much controversy, Sportskeeda reports.

Referee Miguel Nogueira was at the centre of the storm after awarding two penalties deep into added time, with one being chalked off with the use of a mobile phone in his VAR check.

The Porto team was incensed by Nogueira's antics, and they issued a shocking statement after the game requesting for the match to be called off owing to the referee's misbehaviour.

Dean admits VAR error against Chelsea

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Retired Premier League referee, Mike Dean, has stoked controversy after he revisited a Video Assistant Referee error he made last season.

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Dean was in charge of the VAR when Tottenham Hotspur visited Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the second game of the season. The teams played out to a pulsating two-all draw that was full of drama.

Kalidou Koulibaly gave Chelsea the lead in the 19th minute, marking his debut goal for the club as well before Pierre-Emile Højbjerg restored parity in the 68th minute.