'Turning football into rubble' - fury over VAR ruling

'Turning football into rubble' - fury over VAR rulingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Police had to escort the referee off the pitch at full-time ByAilsa CowenBBC Sport journalistPublished4 minutes agoA referee had to be escorted off the pitch by police after a controversial VAR decision in the Asian Champions League semi-finals sparked fury.Japanese side Machida Zelvia were leading Shabab Al-Ahli 1-0 in stoppage time, but the Dubai-based team thought they had snatched a last-gasp equaliser - only for it to be ruled out for an unusual reason.Guilherme Bala's superb solo effort was initially allowed to stand by the referee before it was chalked off after a VAR review. It was deemed the UAE Pro League side had restarted play with a throw-in while Machida were still making a substitution.The decision sparked chaos with Shabab Al-Ahli players surrounding the referee, boss Paulo Sousa storming down the tunnel before the game had finished and goalkeeper Hamad Al-Meqbaali sent off after the final whistle.Referee Shaun Evans had to be led off the field with a police escort.In what is their competition debut, Machida will now play Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli - the reigning champions - in the final on 25 April. "There was a goal that was scored and then it was cancelled - this is a very technical mistake by the referee," Sousa claimed. "Unfortunately this is what is turning football into rubble. It was a big mistake to choose this referee for this match. "We deserved to be in the final and we deserve to play this important game."Related topicsFootballMore on this storyFollow your club with BBC SportPublished12 MarchListen to the latest Football Daily podcastAttributionSoundsGet football news sent straight to your phonePublished16 August 2025