VAR drama explained: Why Rashford was sent off, handball penalties, possible offside-ZoomTech News

The video assistant referee (VAR) would not appear to trigger as a lot controversy within the Champions League, with the cream of Europe’s referees concerned, however once in a while a sport does hit the headlines.

– How VAR selections have affected each Prem membership in 2023-24
– VAR within the Premier League: Final information

FC Copenhagen’s dramatic 4-3 win over Manchester United on Wednesday was crammed with incidents, with a VAR pink card and two penalties, in addition to attainable offside selections and handball claims. We check out all of the drama.

thirty ninth minute: Rashford despatched off

What occurred: Marcus Rashford took management of the ball simply outdoors the FC Copenhagen space beneath stress from Elias Jelert. The Manchester United ahead tried to defend the ball, with the left-back going to floor after contact from the striker. Referee Donatas Rumsas allowed play to proceed, however the VAR, Tomasz Kwiatkowski, started a evaluation for critical foul play.

VAR choice: Crimson card.

VAR evaluation: As has been defined in our Premier League VAR Evaluate up to now, a number of issues are considered when evaluating whether or not a participant has endangered the security of an opponent. One is contact excessive above the boot with the studs, one other is the buckle of the ankle to point a stage of pressure.

Rashford is unlucky in that he wasn’t making a sort out, but intent was taken out of the legal guidelines a number of years in the past. As an alternative, a participant is predicted to concentrate on the place their opponent is and never play in a approach that would trigger them harm.

Many former gamers have mentioned they disagree with Rashford being despatched off, however within the fashionable sport that is at all times prone to be a pink card — particularly with the video referee watching the whole lot once more.

There shall be questions in regards to the referee being proven the incident in sluggish movement, and a freeze body of level of contact. But the purpose of the pitchside monitor is at all times misplaced on this: the display screen exists to current the proof for the referee to vary his choice, and never for a re-evaluation. It isn’t an neutral course of, nevertheless it’s not meant to be — as a result of the purpose of the VAR course of is {that a} clear and apparent error has already been recognized. It is at all times going to be an space that supporters will battle to understand, particularly because the lawmakers proceed to refuse to permit the published of the dialogue with the VAR.

There was confusion as a result of at one level, the VAR message on the tv broadcast mentioned “examine over” earlier than the referee then went to the display screen to make the choice. UEFA additionally initially incorrectly mentioned the pink card was for a flailing arm earlier than correcting it to critical foul play.

forty fifth minute: Attainable offside on Elyounoussi purpose

What occurred: Mohamed Elyounoussi introduced FC Copenhagen again into the sport when he turned residence a cross from Diogo Gonçalves, however was there an offside in opposition to Elias Achouri?

VAR choice: Aim stands.

VAR evaluation: Achouri was positively in an offside place when Elyounoussi hit his shot, it is only a matter of whether or not or not Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana was impacted. Achouri being in that place is not in itself an offence.

Was Achouri in Onana’s line of imaginative and prescient? It is shut, nevertheless it seems like Onana does simply have a view to the ball. The VAR would additionally have in mind that the shot went to Onana’s left (relatively than near Achouri).

Achouri can be transferring away from the trail of the ball, relatively than in direction of it, and makes no motion to aim to play it.

It is the type of subjective choice that’s left to the on-field officers. If the assistant had flagged it, the purpose would have stayed disallowed.

45+7 minutes: Penalty for handball by Maguire

What occurred: FC Copenhagen equalised deep into first-half added time when the referee awarded a spot kick for handball by Harry Maguire.

VAR choice: Penalty stands, scored by Gonçalves.

VAR evaluation: Gonçalves tried to nudge on a cross performed into the field, which got here off the thigh of Raphaël Varane and onto his arm. The defender had his arm by his facet, so there was no handball right here.

The ball then got here again to Gonçalves, who tried to flick the ball round — nevertheless it hit the outstretched arm of Maguire and the referee instantly pointed to the spot.

If this choice has been given by the match referee, there is not any likelihood of a VAR intervention — particularly in Europe.

Nevertheless, within the Premier League, which has a extra relaxed interpretation of handball, the referee could effectively think about the contact on Maguire’s arm to be the consequence of his motion when difficult an opponent from shut proximity.

66th minute: Penalty for handball by Lerager

What occurred: The ball was performed into the Copenhagen space, with Lukas Lerager difficult Maguire for the ball. It hit the arm of Lerager however the referee allowed play to proceed.

VAR choice: Penalty, scored by Bruno Fernandes.

VAR evaluation: It is a traditional UEFA handball penalty, the type that will not be awarded by means of a VAR choice within the Premier League. Certainly, Maguire averted a handball penalty earlier this 12 months in related circumstances in opposition to Nottingham Forest.

Maguire nods the ball onto his personal hand, after which onto the arm of Lerager from point-blank vary. The FC Copenhagen participant is in a real problem for the ball with each Maguire and Varane, has his arm in an anticipated place for his motion and is not creating an apparent barrier.

If a participant (Maguire) intentionally heads the ball and it hits their very own arm it can’t be handball — even when the arm is away from the physique. Then it is determined that the place of Lerager’s arm away from his physique is a handball offence — regardless of the proximity.

Earlier this 12 months, the newly created UEFA soccer board, made up of former gamers and coaches, urged for more clarity on the handball law. Nevertheless, it appears as complicated and irritating as ever, to not neglect inconsistent throughout competitions.