Eduardo Saragó: “It is impossible to deny that there is a predisposition”

 

Deportivo Táchira continues to extend its impressive unbeaten streak over 34 games, consolidating its dominant position in local football. The last confrontation, an exciting classic against Caracas FC, left fans with a bittersweet taste after a 0-0 draw that was marked by the controversy generated by the referee decisions, led by Ángel Arteaga.

Deportivo Táchira's coach, Eduardo Saragó, highlighted the parity of the match in the press conference after the match. He underlined his team's aggressive approach, pressing and attacking, and praised the quality of play when they were in possession. However, the shadow of the referee controversy loomed over the field, generating frustration and discontent in the ranks of Tachira.

The refereeing body, led by Arteaga, was the subject of harsh criticism from Deportivo Táchira, especially in relation to the decisions surrounding the possible penalty sanctions in their favor and the lack of expulsions, particularly that of Francisco La Mantia and Luis Casiani . Saragó expressed his opinion on the referee's performance, acknowledging that, although he does not consider him a bad judge, he did point out the need for self-criticism and the responsibility of those who appoint referees for matches.

In the midst of the complaints, Saragó suggested that the predisposition and controversial situations originated from Acarigua, referring to previous events in which he was not even involved. He insisted that the solution to this problem is simple: appoint another referee. Likewise, he highlighted that the situation has been concatenated over time, generating a tense and challenging environment in which confidence in arbitral impartiality is compromised.

The Deportivo Táchira strategist concluded by emphasizing that the problem does not lie directly with the individual referee, but with those who make the decision to assign them to the matches. This perspective points to the need for a deeper review and more rigorous evaluation in the referee selection process, thus guaranteeing the impartiality and integrity of the game. The controversy generated in this classic not only highlights the importance of football quality, but also the relevance of fair and equitable refereeing to preserve the essence of the sport.

Deportivo Táchira, a team that has managed to extend its undefeated streak to an impressive 34 games, was involved in an exciting classic against Caracas FC that ended in a 0-0 draw last Sunday at the Olympic stadium. Despite the parity on the field of play, the match was marked by the controversial performance of the refereeing team led by Ángel Arteaga.

In the post-match press conference, coach Eduardo Saragó shared his reflections on his team's performance and critically addressed the refereeing decisions. "It was a fairly even match. We went out to press, to attack, we were a good team when we had the ball," said Saragó, highlighting the effort and strategy implemented by his team.

The coach could not help but mention the influence of the main referee, Ángel Arteaga, on the development of the game. He pointed out forcefully the non-sanction of penalties in favor of his team and the lack of expulsion of Francisco La Mantia and Luis Casiani. In this context, Saragó highlighted the need for self-criticism on the part of the referee, emphasizing that the responsibility falls not only on him but on those who appoint him for the matches.

"Let's not play with the largest social manifestation of a town. Nothing compares to Táchira, people are hurt by what they did to them, the predisposition. A little respect, there is a way to solve it. Don't expose it, there are more referees," he implored Saragó, showing its concern for integrity and impartiality in arbitration.

The coach did not limit himself to questioning Arteaga's decisions, but also analyzed the intervention of the VAR, led by Alexis Herrera and Jorge Urrego. He revealed that reviews of the plays were carried out and that, according to the information provided by the VAR, the decisions not to show red cards to La Mantia and Casiani were supported.

"We have received talks about VAR, about refereeing, how far we can go, understand the four possibilities that the tool gives. There were two very good professionals in the VAR, I don't know if the communication between them is good. The environment was not transparent, regardless of the final result," concluded Saragó, raising doubts about the effectiveness and transparency of the video referee system in the context of the match.