Aden McCarthy was sent off during Sabah FK’s UEFA Champions League clash against Viking after a late challenge resulted in a VAR intervention.

The defender was initially shown a yellow card by the referee following a late tackle on an opponent. However, after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor, the referee decided to upgrade the punishment to a straight red card.

The decision was a major setback for Sabah, who were already facing a difficult challenge against their Norwegian opponents. Losing a defender to a red card meant the team had to continue the contest with 10 players, making their task even more complicated.

At the time of McCarthy’s dismissal, Sabah were trailing 3-1, leaving them with a difficult mountain to climb as they attempted to get back into the game.

The VAR intervention once again highlighted how video technology can influence important decisions in European football. Although the initial punishment was a yellow card, the review convinced the referee that the challenge deserved a more serious sanction.

For McCarthy, the dismissal was a disappointing moment, particularly with his team needing every available player to fight their way back into the contest.

Sabah will now have to manage the remainder of the match without the defender, while the incident is likely to attract attention from South African football supporters following his involvement in the European competition.

Source; https://www.facebook.com/61561499773281/posts/122229759314383325/?app=fbl