The Definitive Angle: MLS Week 17
The Definitive Angle is PRO’s analysis of the week’s Video Review use in MLS.
Week 17 overview
There were two Video Reviews during Week 17.
CIN vs NYFC: Review for goal (offside in APP) – not given
What Happened: A goal was scored by Brenner (CIN) and awarded by the on-field match officials. As always, the VAR checked footage of the goal and saw that Brenner had been in an offside position when his teammate Allan Cruz (CIN) had headed the ball towards goal, prior to goalkeeper Sean Johnson (NYC) making a save from which the ball rebounded to Brenner to score.
Brenner had committed an offside offense by gaining an advantage when the ball rebounded to him, and the VAR recommended a Video Review for the goal to be disallowed. After viewing the footage for himself at the RRA, the referee duly awarded an indirect freekick to New York City FC for offside.
On-field decision: Goal.
Type of review: No goal – offside.
Final decision after review: No goal.
Length of review: 1:42.
PRO’s Opinion: This was a good, effective use of the Video Review system to rectify a clear and obvious error at a very important moment of the match.
LA vs MIN: Review for red card (violent conduct) – not given
What Happened: As the full-time whistle was being blown, the ball dropped towards Douglas Costa (LA) and Joseph Rosales (MIN).
While the ball was still several feet in the air, Costa violently thrust his right elbow into the back of Rosales’ head. This was a clear act of violent conduct which the on-field officials did not immediately identify.
In response to being elbowed this way, Rosales reacted by getting up from the floor and moving towards Costa before aggressively pushing him to the upper body. This was seen clearly by the referee, who cautioned Rosales for showing a lack of respect for the game. Having been correctly cautioned for stopping a promising attack a few minutes earlier, Rosales was issued a red card for receiving two yellow cards in the same game.
The VAR checked footage of the situation and saw the clear violent actions of Costa. He recommended a Video Review, and when the referee saw the images for himself at the RRA, he correctly issued a red card to Costa for violent conduct.
On-field decision: Yellow card (lack of respect for the game) for Rosales.
Type of review: Red card (violent conduct) for Costa.
Final decision after review: Red card.
Length of review: 3:20.
PRO’s Opinion: This was a good use of the Video Review system to ensure a player who committed a clear act of violent conduct was appropriately punished.