‘World’s strongest ref’ ignored VAR despite two-foot tackle and punch on River Plate star ...Middle East

Referees have always faced scrutiny with VAR since it was introduced – and they’ve had no shortage of controversy in South America.

Anderson Daronco has been an international referee with FIFA since 2015 where he has officiated in competitions across world football.

The Brazilian has spent the majority of his career in his homeland’s top-flight league – the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A.

But it’s his physical presence on the pitch that makes Daronco unique, which has even earned him a couple of exclusive tags.

Juiz Fortao is reportedly his nickname, with the term meaning Strong Judge when translated.

Daronco has also been dubbed as the ‘world’s strongest referee’, as a result of his impressive pair of imposing biceps.

His muscle sizes have been speculated, with 44cm being a claimed figure, but the referee hasn’t been interested in their measurements.

“I don’t like this business of measuring myself,” he previously said in an interview with O Globo. “Respect comes from the way I treat the players and everyone involved.

“And from the level of accuracy in the decisions I make. I don’t usually follow what people say about me in this regard. But the nickname I’ve heard the most about is the strong referee.”

Daronco played handball for around 11 years and also taught physical education, so it’s no wonder he possesses so much strength.

Refereeing eventually replaced teaching, and one particular match in 2024 saw his decision-making come under the spotlight.

Argentinian giants River Plate, one of 32 teams at this summer’s Club World Cup, met Nacional of Uruguay in the 2024 Copa Libertadores.

Los Millonarios won their first Group H fixture 2-0 in Buenos Aires, but squandered a two-goal lead in their reverse trip to Montevideo.

When in front during the early stages of the second half, River Plate midfielder Rodrigo Aliendro was challenged by a dangerous lunge.

Leandro Lozano jumped off the ground with both feet in an attempt to win the ball for Nacional and revive their attack.

River Plate players immediately called for a red card, a decision that many fans would have expected from Daronco.

But the madness continued just seconds later when Lozano and Enzo Diaz clashed to spark a mass brawl between the two teams.

Once the tensions had dropped, Daronco made his way over to the pitchside VAR screen to review the two incidents.

Cameras first zoomed in on the brawl and showed Nacional’s Franco Romero seemingly punching Paulo Diaz in the face.

Daronco first watched it back in slow motion, but wanted it played in real time, and then dismissed the idea of it being a red card offence.

The initial challenge was then shown and the VAR explained to the referee that it caused the melee.

But again, Daronco didn’t deem the challenge to be enough for him to send off Lozano.

Whilst he did agree with the VAR on the intensity of it, replays show that the Nacional player did in fact win the ball.

Daronco turned away from the screen after a near two-minute check and only showed yellow cards to Lozano and Romero.

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Nacional then scored two goals in as many minutes through Gonzalo Carneiro late on to ensure it finished 2-2 against River Plate.

Both teams advanced to the last-16 of the tournament, which is the South American equivalent of the UEFA Champions League.

River Plate beat Talleres and Colo-Colo to reach the semi-finals, where they were defeated 3-0 on aggregate by Atletico Mineiro.

Despite this, the run helped seal qualification for the Club World Cup via CONMEBOL [South American Football Confederation] rankings.

Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey and Inter Milan are their upcoming opponents in Group E, the first of which meet them on Tuesday.

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