Club América, the darling of VAR in Liga MX

The second leg of the Liga MX semifinals between América and Cruz Azul will go down in history as one of the most passionate, thrilling, and—above all—controversial matches in recent memory. While opinions vary on whether the Águilas’ qualification was fair or not, one irrefutable truth remains: once again, refereeing played a decisive role in the outcome.

A penalty conceded by Celeste goalkeeper Kevin Mier on Rodrigo Aguirre gave the Blue and Whites a significant advantage in a match that was increasingly tilting in their favor. The timing of the foul couldn’t have been better. However, what stirred the most debate was not the penalty itself, but the fact that it had to be confirmed by VAR rather than being called on the spot.

More decisions in favor of América

Although there are no official numbers or detailed records to definitively support the claim, journalist Ricardo Salazar—an expert in football statistics—shared the following on his X account:

“With this penalty awarded, Club América becomes the team with the most favourable decisions via VAR, surpassing Cruz Azul.”

While the statement doesn’t constitute hard proof, it does contribute to a growing perception.

To be fair, such claims require a strong factual foundation. Yet, it’s no secret that in recent Liguillas—beginning with the Águilas’ first title under Jardine—VAR has been a particularly influential tool for América. Each and every decision, whether correct or controversial, has played a critical role in their results.

Here’s a timeline of key VAR decisions that benefited América in recent tournaments:

• Apertura 2023 – Red card to Raymundo Fulgencio in the final vs Tigres
• Clausura 2024 – Penalty caused by Rotondi in the final vs Cruz Azul
• Apertura 2024 – Penalty caused by Rotondi in the semifinal vs Cruz Azul
• Clausura 2025 – Penalty caused by Mier in the semifinal vs Cruz Azul

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