José Mourinho has questioned the use of VAR after arguing that João Cancelo should have been sent off for a challenge on Diomandé during the match.

The Portuguese manager expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision, claiming that the video assistant referee failed to intervene in an incident he considered worthy of a red card. Although Mourinho praised the match referee’s overall performance, he singled out Cancelo’s tackle as a major point of disagreement.

Speaking about the officiating, Mourinho acknowledged the referee’s handling of the encounter and indicated that he was generally satisfied with the decisions made during the game.

“The referee did an amazing job in my opinion,” Mourinho said.

However, the manager quickly turned his attention to the challenge involving Cancelo and Diomandé, arguing that the incident should have prompted a different outcome. He questioned why the VAR team did not recommend further action against the Barcelona defender.

“VAR were sleeping in Cancelo's tackle to Diomandé. That was a clear red card,” he added.

Mourinho’s comments, shared by football journalist Fabrizio Romano on X, made his position on the incident clear. While he considered the referee’s overall performance impressive, he believed the failure to punish the challenge appropriately was a significant exception.

The remarks have drawn attention to the responsibility of VAR officials when potentially serious fouls occur during high-profile matches. The technology is designed to assist referees in reviewing specific incidents, including possible direct red-card offences, when the relevant intervention criteria are met.

However, VAR does not automatically overturn every disputed decision. Its involvement depends on whether officials identify a potential clear and obvious error or another qualifying issue under the applicable review procedures. The referee ultimately remains responsible for making the final decision when a review is required.

In this case, Mourinho’s assessment reflects his interpretation of Cancelo’s challenge and the punishment he believes it deserved. His comments alone do not establish whether the tackle met the formal criteria for a direct red card or whether the VAR officials conducted a review during the match.

The post shared by Romano did not include an official explanation from the referee or the VAR team regarding the incident. It also provided no additional details about the circumstances surrounding the challenge that would clarify why no sending-off occurred.

Without an official account, the reasoning behind the decision remains uncertain. An explanation from the relevant match authorities would be needed to establish how the incident was assessed and whether the officials considered further action necessary.

Nevertheless, Mourinho’s criticism has added to the wider debate surrounding refereeing consistency and the use of video technology in important football matches. Decisions involving potential red cards often attract intense scrutiny because they can significantly influence the course and outcome of a game.

The incident is particularly notable because Mourinho combined his criticism of VAR with praise for the referee, distinguishing between what he viewed as a strong overall performance and one decision he believed was wrong.

For now, the manager’s position remains that Cancelo’s challenge on Diomandé warranted a dismissal and that VAR should have intervened. Whether the decision was justified under the relevant rules cannot be established from his comments alone, leaving the controversy without a confirmed official explanation.