Is VAR 'encouraging players to dive'?

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 20 Oct 2025 05:04 CDT
• 2 min read

News

There was a controversial end to Milan's Serie A fixture against Fiorentina on Sunday evening.

Heading into the dying minutes the scoreline was locked at 1-1 after Rafael Leao cancelled out Robin Gosens' opener.

With around five minutes of normal time remaining, Milan striker Santiago Gimenez went down clutching his face inside the box after a very slight touch from Fabiano Parisi.

Referee Livio Marinelli waved play on at the time, but VAR intervened and advised him to check the incident on the pitchside screens. He awarded a penalty which Leao scored to make it 2-1 as Milan held on for three points.

Fiorentina head coach Stefano Pioli believes that, with VAR always lurking in the background, players are now encouraged to dive.

"The first rule they told us about VAR is that it intervenes if there's a clear and obvious error by the referee," he said post-match.

"But is that what led to Milan's penalty? If we do that, we're inviting the players to simulate. Just put your hands in front of your face at the first contact and everyone will boo."

VAR should not have intervened

Fiorentina Sporting director Daniele Prade called the decision from the officials "scandalous" and believes the referee should have stayed strong on his initial call.

"Marinelli didn't have the courage to stand by his decision," he said.

"We're playing for our lives, and we need to understand that something like this can't be done. It's scandalous. Gimenez was down for 20 minutes and wasn't even touched. Shortly before, there had been a foul on Ranieri that could have been sent off, but instead he was given a yellow. We conceded with 10 men. We're sorry. Fiorentina played with heart and didn't deserve to lose in such a horrendous manner. We're a painful defeat; our league standings are in a negative place, we didn't expect it. Three points after seven games: that's not who we are."

The sporting director threw support behind Pioli, who finds himself under intense scrutiny at Fiorentina despite the 2025/26 season still being in its early stages.

"If anyone can get us out of these situations, it's only Stefano Pioli," Prade insisted.

"The rest is my fault. The protests in Florence should be directed solely at me: I received over €90 million to build the team. If anyone is to blame, it's me. What happens on the pitch is a product of the moment. Our stadium is in terrible condition, and we've started with three away games. But we can do a lot; we have two cups to honour. I'm truly sorry for the fans. If anyone needs to be fired, it's me."

The Viola are winless in their opening seven matches with three draws and four losses from those fixtures.

They are currently 18th in Serie A.

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