Juventus Defender Lloyd Kelly Receives Controversial Straight Red Card After VAR Review During Champions League Tie in Turin

Wednesday night at the Allianz Stadium in Allianz Stadium delivered a Champions League knockout round spectacle, but all anyone is talking about isn’t just the goals—it’s what happened with Lloyd Kelly.

The former Bournemouth and Newcastle defender found himself at the centre of a VAR storm that left fans, pundits, and even his manager Luciano Spalletti scratching their heads.

Kelly’s Fateful Challenge

In the 49th minute, Kelly went up for a header against Baris Yilmaz.

When he landed, his backfoot made contact with Yilmaz’s Achilles.

Referee Joao Pinheiro initially showed Kelly a second yellow card for a previous foul, the kind of moment we’ve grown used to seeing VAR reviews for.

Pinheiro then signaled the invisible review box, sending himself to the pitchside monitor.

Juventus fans inside the stadium dared to hope for a reprieve.

The VAR check, however, did not downgrade the card to nothing.

Instead, in a dramatic twist, Kelly’s second yellow was scrapped—but he was immediately shown a straight red for a serious foul.

The defender’s frustration was palpable; he kicked a wall in the tunnel as he left the field, while Spalletti could only look on, bewildered.

Juventus Fight Back Despite Being a Man Down

Juventus were already trailing from the first leg, down 5-2 against Galatasaray.

With Kelly sent off, the Italians were reduced to ten men.

Yet they rallied impressively, scoring three goals to bring the aggregate score to 5-5 and push the game into extra time.

Unfortunately for Juventus, Galatasaray eventually prevailed 7-5 on aggregate, thanks to late goals from Victor Osimhen and Yilmaz.

How the Laws of the Game Apply

Under current UEFA and IFAB regulations, VAR only reviews “clear and obvious errors” related to goals, penalty incidents, direct red cards, or mistaken identity.

Yellow cards generally fall outside the scope of VAR interventions.

But here’s the nuance: once the referee goes to the monitor, the laws allow them to make whatever decision they deem appropriate.

That meant Pinheiro could escalate Kelly’s yellow to a straight red if he believed the challenge was serious foul play.

Interestingly, IFAB is set to review changes to VAR rules at its upcoming general meeting, including whether wrongly awarded second yellow cards could be downgraded in the future.

That could prevent similar controversies going forward.

Pundits React to the Decision

Former Premier League defender Curtis Davies called it “an absolute disgrace,” emphasizing the accidental nature of Kelly’s landing.

Rory Smith echoed the sentiment, calling it “awful.”

Andy Reid added that football needs some level of contact, warning that over-regulation risks making it “non-contact.”

On the other side, Nedum Onuoha noted that under football rules, the red card was unavoidable, while Stephen Warnock argued it was purely accidental and disagreed with the straight red decision.

Suspension Consequences

UEFA rules dictate that any red card, whether straight or from two yellows, carries an automatic suspension for the next European match.

Since Juventus were eliminated, Kelly’s ban will carry into the next Champions League season, adding another layer of frustration for the defender.

What’s next?

This incident has sparked renewed debate about VAR in football.

IFAB’s upcoming review could lead to rule changes that allow referees to downgrade second yellow cards after a VAR check.

Meanwhile, Juventus must regroup and focus on domestic competitions, while Galatasaray advances to the next stage, having survived a dramatic 7-5 aggregate thriller.

Fans will also be watching how UEFA continues to clarify and educate referees on serious fouls versus accidental contact in aerial challenges.

Summary

Lloyd Kelly’s challenge against Baris Yilmaz turned into one of the most talked-about VAR decisions of the Champions League season.

Initially shown a second yellow, the VAR review led to a straight red, leaving Juventus down to ten men in their attempt to overturn a 5-2 deficit against Galatasaray.

Despite an impressive comeback to level the tie at 5-5, Juventus eventually lost 7-5 on aggregate.

The decision has drawn heavy criticism from pundits and former players, highlighting ongoing controversies surrounding VAR rules.

UEFA and IFAB are expected to review these scenarios, potentially changing how second yellow cards are handled in the future.