VAR controversy rocks Nations League semi-final as Portugal are awarded penalty only for decision to be overturned and Switzerland to be given one instead after striker Steven Zuber was tripped moments earlier
- Portugal had a penalty decision overturned by the Video Assistant Referee
- Switzerland were instead awarded a spot kick for incident from moments earlier
- Steven Zuber adjudged to have been tripped in the area by Nelson Semedo
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Wednesday night's Nations League semi-final between Portugal and Switzerland has been rocked by Video Assistant Referee controversy.
Portugal had a penalty in Porto overturned with Switzerland awarded one for an incident which had happened just moments earlier when Steven Zuber had been tripped.
Ricardo Rodriguez made no mistake from the spot, slipping his effort under Rui Patricio to bring the Swiss level at 1-1 in the second-half.
Portugal's players protest a decision to overturn a penalty by Video Assistant Referee system
Referee Felix Brych consults the screen on the touchline over the penalty kick decision
Cristiano Ronaldo hands the ball over to Fabian Schar as the penalty decision is overturned
The crowd inside the Estadio do Dragao were left stunned as referee Felix Brych was forced to halt Portuguese celebrations.
Portugal were awarded a spot kick after Bernardo Silva was fouled inside the Swiss area.
Swiss players surrounded the official as they protest an incident that had happened just moments earlier on the other side of the pitch.
But the VAR was already checking an incident that had happened just a few moments earlier at the other end of the pitch.
Portugal were initially awarded a spot kick after Bernardo Silva tripped over Fabian Schar
It was overturned when VAR showed that Steven Zuber had been tripped by Nelson Semedo
Confusion reigned as the players argued among themselves and after an age referee Brych made the VAR signal and checked the monitor on the side of the pitch.
The incident in question saw Nelson Semedo trip Steven Zuber as they challenged for an aerial ball in the Portuguese area.
Brych overturned his call and pointed to a penalty for the Swiss as Manchester City's Silva led the protests from the Portuguese players.
Sky Sports pundits Andy Hinchcliffe and Emile Heskey both backed the call from VAR after the game.
'He [referee] did absolutely the right thing', said Hinchcliffe.
He didn't see this as a penalty in real time so there is no reason to blow the whistle so the game carries on. The ball goes down the other end of the pitch. Bernardo Silva is fouled.
Ricardo Rodriguez made no mistake from the spot to equalise for Switzerland against Portugal
It will be a penalty to Portugal but VAR have had a word with him and said "you need to have a look at the Swiss appeals for a penalty" so he goes back and has a look at it.
'He does absolutely the right thing and to me he has come to the right decision as well because there was a foul [on Zuber] in the first place.'
Heskey added: 'Definitely. At real pace you don't see this, that little clip there. I don't think he necessary means it, but it's a foul. It's inside the box, it's a penalty.
'He obviously gets to review once the game stops. We go up the other end and that is definitely 100% penalty [for Portugal] but that is irrelevant now this has been given a foul.
'Nelson Semedo is his own worst enemy. It looks like he [Zuber] falls over his own feet but there is a slight clip. It's all down to Nelson Semedo. His wrong defensive position means that he has to make a challenge and it is a penalty'
Rodriguez and team-mates celebrate after levelling up in the Nations League semi-final
Switzerland's joy was shortlived however as Cristiano Ronaldo, denied the opportunity of doubling his tally for the night from the spot, fired home two late goals for Portugal.
He met a cut back from Silva with a rifled finish low into the bottom corner to give Portugal an 88th minute lead.
He then completed his hat-trick with a curling finish into the same corner just two minutes later to send Portugal into Sunday's final.
They will face the winner between England and Holland in the other semi-final on Thursday.
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