UEFA has replaced the VAR referee for the Champions League group stage match between Real Sociedad and Salzburg without giving any official reason.
Tomasz Kwiatkowski, Getty ImagesTomasz Kwiatkowski was supposed to officiate at the VAR for the match in San Sebastian on 29 November, but he was replaced after working in the 1-1 match between PSG and Newcastle. "The Magpies took the lead but were awarded a controversial penalty in stoppage time when Tino Livramento was adjudged to have handled the ball. The match referee, Shimon Marchyniak, initially disallowed the eleven-metre penalty, but Kwiatkowski asked for a review, which led to the penalty.
The draw deprived Newcastle of a victory that would have qualified the team for the Champions League play-offs. Instead, the Magpies must now defeat Milan and hope for a favour from Borussia Dortmund, who have already guaranteed themselves a place in the next round of the tournament, in their last group game against PSG.
