The Definitive Angle: MLS Week 24
The Definitive Angle is PRO’s analysis of the week’s Video Review use in MLS.
Week 24 overview
There were five Video Reviews during Week 24.
TOR vs STL: Review for penalty kick (handball) – not given
What Happened: Indiana Vassilev (STL) struck a freekick at goal from outside the penalty area and it hit the jumping wall. The ball looped up in the air and was caught by Tomás Romero (TOR). The referee did not identify an offense in real-time and allowed play to continue.
The VAR analyzed the available angles and saw that the ball struck the left arm of Raoul Petretta (TOR), the defender on the outside of the wall, who had his arm connected to his teammate Brandon Servania (TOR) as they jumped together. The VAR determined that the arm created a barrier for the ball, stopped the ball from passing through, and that the non-awarding of a penalty kick was a clear and obvious error.
An on-field review was recommended, and after Video Review, the referee did not believe this was a deliberate handball offense.
On-field decision: Play on.
Type of review: Penalty kick.
Final decision after review: No change.
Length of review: 3:30.
PRO’s Opinion: This was a handball offense. As the wall jumped, there was a gap between the Petretta and Servania, and the ball hit the arm of Petretta that was away from the body and creating a barrier for the ball. This was a correct review that should have resulted in a penalty kick being awarded.
RBNY vs NE: Review for goal (offside) – not given
What Happened: A goal was scored by Andrew Farrell (NE) and awarded by the on-field officials.
The VAR analyzed the available angles and saw that when Farrell shot, Giacomo Vrioni (NE) was in an offside position and in the line of sight of goalkeeper Carlos Coronel (RBNY).
He determined that Vrioni had an impact on the goalkeeper’s ability to react and attempt to save the shot and recommended an on-field review. After Video Review, the referee disallowed the goal.
On-field decision: Goal.
Type of review: No goal.
Final decision after review: No goal.
Length of review: 1:50.
PRO’s Opinion: Although Vrioni was in an offside position at the moment of the shot, he was moving away from the trajectory of the ball, which reduces the impact that he might have had on Coronel. As the ball was moving through the group of players, there was a small change in direction when it was deflected by Tom Barlow (RBNY). The deflection was not identified by the VAR.
The VAR attributed Vrioni’s offside position as having impacted Coronel’s late reaction to attempt to save when it was most likely the deviation of the ball. For offside – interfering with an opponent, PRO would like to see clearer impact by the player in the offside position before recommending an on-field review.
What Happened: While the fourth official was monitoring the technical area of Columbus Crew after their head coach Wilfried Nancy had been sent off, the Columbus Crew fitness coach squirted water on the fourth official.
The fourth official was unaware of who was responsible for this because he was facing the field and asked the VAR to check on which technical area personnel had committed the act. The VAR was able to identify the individual and recommended an on-field review
After Video Review, the referee issued a red card to the Columbus Crew fitness coach for violent conduct.
On-field decision: Missed incident.
Type of review: Red card (violent conduct).
Final decision after review: Red card.
Length of review: 2:00.
PRO’s Opinion: Although unusual for Video Review to get involved with technical staff, the throwing of any object at a match official is violent conduct and needs to be dealt with when identified. This was an act of violent conduct against a match official and an appropriate use of the Video Review system to reach the correct outcome.
What Happened: The ball was volleyed toward the center of the penalty area by Keegan Rosenberry (COL), and it struck Sam Junqua (DAL). The referee did not identify an offense in real-time and allowed play to continue.
The VAR analyzed the available angles and saw the defender’s left arm had created a barrier for the ball. An on-field review was recommended, and the referee awarded a penalty kick after Video Review.
On-field decision: Play on.
Type of review: Penalty kick
Final decision after review: Penalty.
Length of review: 2:25.
PRO’s Opinion: Junqua’s arm was up and away from his body; it created a barrier and blocked the cross. This was a good use of the Video Review system to overturn a clear and obvious error.
What Happened: Paul Marie (SJ) was inside the penalty area when he played the ball with his leg, which then bounced up directly to his arm. The referee, acting on the advice of the assistant referee who saw the ball hit the arm, awarded a penalty kick for a handball offense.
The VAR analyzed the available angles and determined that the arm was in a justifiable position when Marie made a deliberate play with his leg to attempt to control the ball. He felt the awarding of a penalty kick was a clear and obvious error and recommended an on-field review. After Video Review, the referee rescinded the penalty kick.
On-field decision: Penalty kick.
Type of review: No penalty.
Final decision after review: No penalty.
Length of review: 1:45.
PRO’s Opinion: Marie’s arms were in a justifiable position for the manner in which he was deliberately playing the ball with his leg, and although the ball hit his arm, there was not additional movement to the ball. This was not a punishable handball offense. This was a good use of the Video Review system to rectify a clear and obvious error.