The Whistle: Round 25 refereeing and VAR incidents explained

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

Let’s start with the penalty awarded at AAMI Park for the Central Coast Mariners.

In this incident Thomas Deng tripped Matt Simon inside the penalty area and a penalty kick was awarded. The side-on camera angle showed that Deng’s right knee clearly made contact with Simon’s left leg, which caused him to trip. The VAR checked the incident and confirmed the on-field decision.

WATCH: See the penalty decision unfold in the video below. 

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6026542763001

 

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Across in Perth the Jets had an early goal disallowed for offside after a VAR review…

The ball was crossed into the penalty area by Ivan Vujica and a goal was scored. The assistant referee judged that Jets’ Roy O’Donovan was not in an offside position and the on-field decision is a goal.

The VAR checked the incident and determined that O’Donovan was clearly in an offside position when the ball was played. In this situation it does not matter whether O’Donovan touched the ball or not. He was clearly challenging for the ball and this action interferes with the opponent. After a VAR review the goal was correctly disallowed for offside.

WATCH AND LISTEN: Hear the communication between the referee and VAR during the VAR review in the below video.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6026536835001

 

Later in the same match there was an on-field review for a potential penalty, what was the process of this decision?

The referee allowed play to continue after contact between Perth Glory’s Joel Chianese and Newcastle Jets’ Nigel Boogaard in the penalty area. The referee then awarded a defensive free kick to Newcastle Jets.

The VAR checked the incident and recommended an on-field review for a potential penalty kick. The referee checked the incident himself and was satisfied there was no foul on Chianese.

WATCH AND LISTEN: Hear the communication between the referee and VAR during the on-field review in the below video.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6026542764001

 

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