Know why Georgia awarded penalty against Czech Republic after long VAR check?

Georgia faced Czech Republic in their second game of the UEFA Euro 2024. The debutant team was unlucky in the game against Turkey where they could have at least gotten a draw in their first game in any major tournament. Georgia started the game excellently and kept the pressure on Czechia in the first half of the game. Jvarosnebi broke the deadlock in the 45th minute of the game as they were awarded a penalty. 

Georgia's center-back Guram Kashia took a shot just before the half, but Czech goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek stopped it. The ball was then cleared away, and the game was flowing. However VAR stepped in and stopped the match, and after a long review, awarded Georgia a penalty because the ball had hit Robin Hranac of Czechia's hand before it dropped to Kashia. Therefore Georges Mikautadze successfully converted from the spot to give his side the lead. 

UEFA has used new technology to determine handballs during ongoing matches as the ball has microchips inside it there are sensors inside, which can determine the precise moment contact was made with the ball. It represents this contact as a 'heartbeat', which corresponds to what the camera angles reveal. The first time it was used in the game between Belgium and Slovakia where Lois Openda used his hand during a goal-scoring build for the side. 

Czech and Georgia share points

In the game it was previously used in the 23rd minute, Adam Hlozek handled the ball into the area following a long throw by Vladimir Coufal. While Czechia was celebrating, it was revealed that VAR was reviewing the goal which eventually cancelled Hlozek’s strike as it was deemed that he handled the ball before putting it inside the net.

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Czechia however scored the equaliser in the second half with the ball hitting the crossbar and ending up in front of Patrick Schick who guided the ball with his head inside the net. The game ended in a 1-1 draw with Georgia getting their very first point in any major tournament.