The Definitive Angle is PRO’s analysis of the week’s Video Review use in MLS.
Matchday 28 overview There were nine Video Reviews during Matchday 28.
PHI vs TOR: Offside (no goal)
Outcome: After review, Philadelphia #9 [Tai Baribo] committed an offside offense when he interfered with Toronto #17’s [Sigurd Rosted] ability to defend before he went on to score a goal.
The final decision was offside and an indirect free kick [to Toronto FC].
Length of Review: 3:04
PRO’s opinion: At the moment Kai Wagner (PHI) took the free kick, Baribo (PHI) was in an offside position. The on-field officials detected no impact at the time, and Baribo eventually scored a goal. Baribo acted as a barrier and prevented Rosted (TOR) from getting into a more advantageous position to attempt to defend the free kick. The referee was correct to disallow the goal for the offside offense, interfering with an opponent.
ATX vs HOU: Penalty kick
Outcome: After review, Austin #16 [Robert Taylor] fouled Houston #22 [Pablo Ortiz] inside the penalty area.
The final decision was a penalty [to Houston Dynamo].
Length of Review: 4:58
PRO’s opinion: Taylor (ATX) attempted to play the ball, but instead, kicked the back of Ortiz’s (HOU) leg as he challenged, which tripped the attacker. The referee allowed play to continue because the contact was minimal, but the VAR felt that it had an impact and recommended a review for a penalty kick. The referee then awarded a penalty after video review because there was a clear action and a tripping offense was committed. This is a subjective call, and PRO does not believe the foul reached the threshold of a clear and obvious error, and the review should not have been recommended.
CHI vs LAFC: Penalty kick
Outcome: After review, Chicago #4 [Carlos Terán] fouled Los Angeles #7 [Son Heung-Min] inside the penalty area.
The final decision was a penalty [to Los Angeles Football Club] and a yellow card to Chicago #4 for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity while attempting to play the ball.
Length of Review: 2:13
PRO’s opinion: Terán (CHI) lunged and reached for the ball as he attempted to tackle Son (LAFC). The defender made contact with Son’s leading leg, and then the boots of the attacker’s trailing leg, which caused him to go to ground. The referee allowed play to continue because he was informed by his assistant referee Terán had played the ball. The referee correctly awarded a penalty kick after video review because, although there was a touch of the ball, it did not change the direction of the ball or dispossess Son.
STL vs NSH: Encroachment
Outcome: After review, there was encroachment by St Louis #1 [Roman Bürki].
The final decision was to retake the penalty kick.
Length of review: 2:39
PRO’s opinion: Before Hany Mukhtar (NSH) took the penalty kick, Bürki (STL) had moved forward with both feet clearly in front of the goal line.
SJ vs VAN: Penalty kick
Outcome: After review, Vancouver #33 [Tristan Blackmon] fouled San Jose #94 [Vítor Costa] inside the penalty area.
The final decision was a penalty [to San Jose Earthquakes].
Length of Review: 3:12
PRO’s opinion: Blackmon (VAN) put both his hands on Costa’s (SJ) lower torso and pushed him off balance. The attacker went to ground and the referee awarded a penalty. However, the VAR determined that there was no pushing offense and that the contact was normal. The referee maintained his decision to award a penalty kick after video review because he saw the contact as a foul.
This was a subjective decision. On one hand, the Low-End Zone angle shows a pushing action by the defender, but when viewed from the Left18 and Tight angles, Blackmon’s arms appear to be on Costa’s body to brace and not to push. After evaluating all the considerations, PRO would have preferred no penalty to be awarded on the field.
CIN vs CLT: Red card (serious foul play)
Outcome: After review, Cincinnati #27 [Tah Brian Anunga] committed a serious foul play offense on Charlotte #28 [Djibril Diani].
The final decision was a red card for serious foul play.
Length of review: 2:03
PRO’s opinion: Wilfried Zaha (CLT) fouled Anunga (CIN), and the ball broke free to Diani (CLT), who was able to play the ball ahead of Anunga’s challenge. As there was opportunity for Anunga to regain control of the ball, the referee used a ‘wait-and-see’ approach to determine if he could apply an advantage. The Cincinnati midfielder arrived late and stepped on Diani’s outstretched leg. The referee determined that the contact was accidental and issued a yellow card for a reckless challenge. He was correct to rescind the yellow card and issue a red card for serious foul play after video review because Anunga made contact with his studs using excessive force.
RBNY vs RSL: Penalty kick
Outcome: After review, Salt Lake #4 [Brayan Vera] fouled New York #13 [Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting] inside the penalty area.
The final decision was a penalty [to New York Red Bulls].
Length of Review: 1:27
PRO’s opinion: Vera (RSL) was unsuccessful in playing the ball when he challenged Choupo-Moting (RBNY) and instead made contact with the right leg of the attacker using his left foot, which forced him to ground. The referee was shielded from this incident as there were multiple players in his line of vision in real-time, but he correctly awarded a penalty kick after the video review.
RBNY vs RSL: Red card (violent conduct)
Outcome: After review, New York #6 [Kyle Duncan] committed a violent conduct offense on Salt Lake #8 [Diego Luna].
The final decision was a red card to New York #6.
Length of review: 4:22
PRO’s opinion: Luna (RSL) reached out with his arms and held Duncan (RBNY) to prevent him from moving into the space. The referee determined that Duncan would have had control of the ball, speed, space, and attacking options if he had not been held, so he issued a yellow card to Luna for stopping a promising attack. As he had previously been issued a yellow card in the match, the referee issued the subsequent red card.
The VAR analyzed the available angles and determined that after the hold, Duncan raised his arm and made contact with Luna’s neck and dragged him to the ground. The referee issued a red card to Duncan for violent conduct after video review. This was deliberate contact to the head/neck of an opponent, but it could also be seen as an attempt by Duncan to free himself from the hold. Violent conduct is one of the exceptions where a review can be recommended after the ball has been put into play, so this was correct within protocol, but PRO would have preferred no review to have been recommended because this was more of a holding action than a striking action.
RBNY vs RSL: Penalty kick
Outcome: After review, no offside offense was committed by New York #13 [Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting] before Salt Lake #15 [Justen Glad] fouled New York #13 inside the penalty area.
The final decision was a penalty [New York Red Bulls].
Length of review: 2:59
PRO’s opinion: The assistant referee delayed his flag on the through ball from Raheem Edwards (RBNY) to Choupo-Moting (RBNY), who was then forced to ground by Glad (RSL), who reached out and held the attacker. Following the award of the penalty, the assistant referee raised his flag, and the on-field decision was changed from a penalty to offside. The VAR analyzed the available angles and determined that Choupo-Moting was level with Glad and not in an offside position. The referee then correctly awarded a penalty kick after video review.
Inside Video Review This week’s Inside Video Review has been delayed. It will be published next week.
Please note: These videos do not contain audio. They are a recording of the screen as viewed by the VAR in real-time.
