The Definitive Angle: MLS Week 14
The Definitive Angle is PRO’s analysis of the week’s Video Review use in MLS.
Week 14 overview
There were seven Video Reviews during Week 14.
MTL vs CLB: Offside (no goal)
What happened: After review, Columbus #17 [Christian Ramírez] was in an offside position when Columbus #14 [Yaw Yeboah] crossed the ball during the buildup to the goal. Columbus #17 then interfered with play when he touched the ball.
The final decision was offside and an indirect free kick [to CF Montréal].
Length of Review: 2:10
PRO’s opinion: The VAR and AVAR determined that Ramírez (CLB) was in an offside position when the ball was last touched by Yeboah (CLB). This was a good use of the Video Review system to disallow a goal for an offside situation.
CHI vs CLT: No handball
What happened: After review, Chicago #4 [Carlos Terán] did not commit a punishable handball offense inside the penalty area.
The final decision was no penalty and play restarted with a goal kick [to Chicago Fire].
Length of review: 2:35
PRO’s opinion: Terán (CHI) intercepted the cross from Brecht Dejaegere (CLT) and deliberately played the ball with his foot, and the ball then went up and touched his arm. There was no additional, movement of his arm to the ball to make it a handball offense and the referee correctly maintained his original decision. This was an unnecessary review.
What happened: After review, Vancouver #15 [Bjørn Inge Utvik] had his arm extended away from his body and created a barrier for the ball to block the shot by Colorado #10 [Djordje Mihailovic] inside the penalty area.
The final decision was penalty kick [to Colorado Rapids] and a red card to Vancouver #15 for denial of a goal.
Length of review: 3:41
PRO’s opinion: Utvik (VAN) lunged in front of the shot from Mihailovic (COL), blocked the ball from going into the goal with his right arm, and deflected it out of play. This was a handball offense and had the ball not struck Utvik’s arm, given the position of the goalkeeper, it would have resulted in a goal. The referee correctly awarded a penalty and issued a red card for denial of a goal. This was a very good use of the Video Review system to rectify a clear and obvious error.
What happened: After review, the shot from Minnesota #21 [Bongokuhle Hlongwane] crossed the goal line.
The final decision was goal [to Minnesota United].
Length of review: 1:10
PRO’s opinion: The ball rebounded off the crossbar and struck the ground inside the goal before it bounced back into play. Given the pace of the shot from outside the area, the assistant referee was not able to get a definitive angle to conclude whether it crossed the line and play continued. The VAR quickly determined it had and play was stopped. This was a good, efficient use of the Video Review system to rectify a clear and obvious error.
POR vs SJ: Penalty kick and yellow card
What happened: After review, San Jose #25 [William Yarbrough] fouled Portland #14 [Jonathan Rodríguez] inside the penalty area.
The final decision was penalty kick [to Portland Timbers] and a yellow card to San Jose #25 for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity while attempting to play the ball.
Length of review: 3:35
PRO’s opinion: After Rodríguez (POR) and Yarbrough (SJ) collided, the referee awarded a direct free kick to San Jose Earthquakes for a foul by Rodríguez. This was a subjective incident, and arguments can be made for both players being guilty of initiating contact with each other. PRO feels that this did not meet the threshold of a clear and obvious error and would have preferred that the review had not been recommended.
STL vs LAFC: Penalty kick
What happened: After review, Los Angeles #2 [Omar Campos] committed a punishable handball offense when he blocked the cross by St Louis #9 [João Klauss] inside the penalty area.
The final decision was penalty kick [to St Louis CITY].
Length of review: 1:49
PRO’s opinion: The ball struck the arm of Campos (LAFC), which was away from his body, and created a barrier as he jumped to block the cross by Klauss (STL). This was a punishable handball offense and a good use of the Video Review system to reach the correct outcome.
What happened: St Louis #13 [Anthony Markanich] committed an attacker handball offense in the process of scoring a goal.
The final decision was that the goal [for St Louis CITY] was disallowed. Play restarted with a direct free kick [to LAFC].
Length of review: 2:42
PRO’s opinion: The VAR determined that the ball touched Markanich’s arm (STL) immediately before he scored the goal. The referee was correct to disallow the goal for attacker handball. This was a good use of the Video Review system to rectify a clear and obvious error.
The offense does not require the attacker to make his body bigger or commit a deliberate handball. It is an offense if the ball touches the arm of an attacker, and then he immediately scores a goal, even if that touch is accidental.
Please note: These videos do not contain audio. They are a recording of the screen as viewed by the VAR in real-time.