Uproar over Rapid goal

Bundesliga confirms wrong decision against Bulls

Christian-Petru Ciochirca scored the goal to make it 2-0 - although Salzburg had claimed a penalty.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

An incorrect refereeing decision had a major impact on a match that could have been decisive for the championship. As the ÖFB confirmed via VAR Austria on Wednesday, referee Christian-Petru Ciochirca was wrong in the 73rd minute of Rapid's 2-0 home win against Red Bull Salzburg last Sunday. Instead of the goal to make it 2-0, Salzburg should have been awarded a penalty.

In the 73rd minute, Rapid defender Nikolas Sattlberger had brought down Salzburg striker Karim Konate in the penalty area. Rapid recovered the ball and scored on the counter-attack through Guido Burgstaller. Rapid's Fally Mayulu, who provided the pass to the goalscorer, had previously prevailed in a duel with Mads Bidstrup. While the Mayulu-Bidstrup duel can be classified as "hard but fair", the attack by Sattlberger "should have been punished with a penalty kick", as the Rapid player missed the ball and hit Konate's ankle, VAR Austria explained on Wednesday.

Wrong scene
The video assistant referee had recommended that Ciochirca review the scene, which the referee did. Ciochirca primarily looked at the tackle on the counter-attack and less intensively at the action in the Rapid penalty area. "However, the focus should have been on the action with the penalty that was not awarded," he said.

The 2-0 defeat means Salzburg are four points behind Sturm Graz with two games of the season remaining and could be dethroned on Sunday.