The Whistle: Round 21 refereeing and VAR incidents explained

Each week a-league.com.au will be speaking with FFA Director of Referees Ben Wilson to review some of the contentious refereeing and VAR incidents from the weekend’s matches.

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In the Melbourne City v Perth Glory match can you discuss the decision to award Melbourne City a penalty for handball.

In the 33rd minute of the match, Melbourne City were awarded a penalty after Shane Lowry was penalised for deliberate handball.

Lowry was correctly penalised as his arm was away from his body and blocked Florin Berenguer-Bohrer’s cross into the penalty area.

When a defender in the penalty chooses to go to ground in an attempt to stop the ball, the onus is on them to ensure their arm does not block or strike the ball. A penalty kick was the correct decision.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6012885886001

In the Brisbane Roar v Western Sydney Wanderers match a goal was reviewed for a possible offside, can you talk us through that process.

In the 38th minute of the match, the Wanderers scored a goal through Oriel Riera.

Immediately after the goal was scored the Assistant Referee raised his flag because Riera was in an offside position and interfered with play.

The Assistant Referee believed the ball had been played by an attacking player.

The Referee saw that the ball was deliberately played by a defender. After a short discussion with the Assistant Referee, the Referee’s decision was to award the goal.

Even though the Referee did not need to review the incident because the on-field decision was correct, the on-field review reassured the players that a fair goal had been scored.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6012879646001

 

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