Marcello Lippi has called for VAR to be brought into the Champions League ‘immediately’ after Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card, which was ‘a hallucination’.
Felix Brych’s decision to send off Ronaldo for pulling Jeison Murillo’s hair during Juventus’ 2-0 win at Valencia was roundly criticised, and Lippi made it clear VAR had become a necessity in the Champions League.
“The red for CR7 was because a person had a hallucination,” the former Bianconeri boss told Tuttosport.
“You can’t risk compromising a game and, above all, a competition with a moment like that, which could result in a two-match ban.
“Now UEFA should come out and say, ‘gentlemen, we were wrong.’ You can’t go back on it because Ronaldo has already been sent off and the game is over, but a ban would be absurd.
“Therefore, there shouldn’t be one and we immediately implement VAR in the Champions League.
“Juventus are prepared for everything and any eventuality. They’re the favourites for the Champions League, together with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and PSG.
“Let’s say that compared to the last few years, Juve are in that group of clubs. Could Ronaldo have completely avoided with Murillo? We’re talking about a champion who, before the other night, had never been sent off, and Cristiano had played 154 matches in the Champions League.
“He did nothing wrong against Valencia. The world rightly considers Ronaldo a star, but first of all he’s a lad who is always respectful and very helpful. His tears at Mestalla confirmed that.”
The China Coach then gave his opinion on the Douglas Costa spitting storm, which resulted in a four-match ban for the Juve winger.
“It was wrong: at certain levels we must know how to contain ourselves,” he added.
“The case is closed: he’s been punished and now he must keep quiet. I see no connection with that and Ronaldo’s red.
“One was guilty of a gesture that wasn’t justifiable, while the other did nothing wrong.”