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 every so often 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 potential 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 exterior the FC Copenhagen space underneath strain 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 overview for severe foul play.
VAR determination: Purple card.
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Why Burley has ‘little question’ Marcus Rashford deserved a pink card
Craig Burley believes Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford did should be despatched off for his deal with vs. FC Copenhagen within the UEFA Champions League.
VAR overview: As has been defined in our Premier League VAR Evaluation prior to now, a couple of issues are considered when evaluating whether or not a participant has endangered the protection 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 power.
Rashford is unlucky, in that he wasn’t making a deal with, but intent was taken out of the legal guidelines a number of years in the past. As a substitute, a participant is predicted to pay attention to the place their opponent is and never play in a means which may trigger them harm.
Many former gamers have mentioned they disagree with Rashford being despatched off, however within the trendy sport that is at all times prone to be a pink card — particularly with the video referee watching all the things once more.
There might be questions concerning the referee being proven the incident in gradual 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 alter his determination, and never for a re-assessment. It isn’t an neutral course of, but it surely’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 VAR the message on the tv broadcast mentioned “test 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 severe foul play.
forty fifth minute: Doable offside on Elyounoussi objective
What occurred: Mohamed Elyounoussi introduced FC Copenhagen again into the sport when he turned house a move from Diogo Gonçalves, however was there an offside towards Elias Achouri?
VAR determination: Purpose stands.
VAR overview: 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, but it surely seems like Onana does simply have a view to the ball. The VAR would additionally consider that the shot went to Onana’s left (slightly than near Achouri.)
Achouri can also be transferring away from the trail of the ball, slightly than in direction of it, and makes no motion to try to play it.
It is the form of subjective determination which is left to the on-field officers. If the assistant had flagged, the objective 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 determination: Penalty stands, scored by Gonçalves.
VAR overview: 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 — but it surely hit the outstretched arm of Maguire and the referee instantly pointed to the spot.
If this determination has been given by the match referee there isn’t any probability of a VAR intervention — particularly in Europe.
Nevertheless, within the Premier League, which has a extra relaxed interpretation of handball, the referee could properly contemplate 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 determination: Penalty, scored by Bruno Fernandes.
VAR overview: This can be a basic UEFA handball penalty, the type that might not be awarded by way of a VAR determination within the Premier League. Certainly, Maguire averted a handball penalty earlier this 12 months in comparable circumstances towards Nottingham Forest.
Maguire nods the ball 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.
Earlier this 12 months, the newly created UEFA Soccer Board, made up of former gamers and coaches, urged for extra readability on the handball regulation but it appears as complicated and irritating as ever, to not overlook inconsistent throughout competitions.