The Definitive Angle: MLS Week 30
The Definitive Angle is PRO’s analysis of the week’s Video Review use in MLS.
Week 30 overview
There were two Video Reviews during Week 30.
TOR vs ATL: Review for red card (violent conduct) – given
What Happened: Auro Jr (TOR) and Ezequiel Barco (ATL) were issued red cards for violent conduct.
While the referee was dealing with a separate confrontation in a different part of the field of play, Auro Jr and Barco squared up to one another, placing their heads against each other and repeatedly pushing forward in a rutting motion. This was witnessed by another member of the officiating crew who deemed the actions of both players to be violent and informed the referee. As such, the referee issued a red card to both players.
The VAR had doubt as to the severity of the incident between these two players, and as the referee had not seen the incident for himself, the VAR recommended a Video Review. However, having looked at the footage at the RRA, the referee decided to retain the two red cards.
On-field decision: Red cards (violent conduct).
Type of review: Yellow cards.
Final decision after review: No change.
Length of review: 4:50.
PRO’s Opinion: The players used their heads in a very aggressive way and two red cards did not reach the threshold of being clearly and obviously incorrect. As such, a Video Review should not have been recommended.
CIN vs ORL: Review for penalty kick (foul challenge) – not given
What Happened: FC Cincinnati appealed for a penalty kick when Brandon Vazquez (CIN) went down under pressure from Rodrigo Schlegel (ORL) as he tried to reach a deep diagonal cross into the Orlando City penalty area. The referee waved away the appeals and awarded a goal kick.
The VAR saw that Schlegel had made heavy contact with his right arm/hand into the face of Vazquez as Vazquez was moving towards the dropping ball. The VAR deemed this contact to be worthy of a penalty kick.
When the referee looked at the footage, he saw the contact from Schlegel on Vazquez but felt this was, at least in part, as a consequence of prior contact on Schlegel from Nick Hagglund (CIN). He retained his initial no penalty kick award and the game re-started with a goal kick.
On-field decision: Goal kick.
Type of review: Penalty kick.
Final decision after review: No change.
Length of review: 3:30.
PRO’s Opinion: While there was some contact from Hagglund on Schlegel, this was almost certainly because Hagglund had been knocked off balance by Júnior Urso (ORL) who had been trying to stop Hagglund.
Also, the use of Schlegel’s right arm/hand to make significant contact into Vazquez’s face was not consistent with him being knocked off balance. As such, a penalty would have been the more appropriate outcome in this case.