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The Definitive Angle: MLS Matchday 3

by

PRO Media
3 Min Read
Video Review quad screen

The Definitive Angle is PRO’s analysis of the week’s Video Review use in MLS.

Matchday 3 overview
There were four Video Reviews during Matchday 3.

CLT vs ATX: Red card (serious foul play)

Outcome: After review, Austin #29 [Guilherme Biro] committed a serious foul play offense on Charlotte #9 [Idan Toklomati].

The final decision was a red card for serious foul play.

Length of review: 1:04

PRO’s opinion: Biro (ATX) challenged Toklomati (CLT) from behind and was holding the attacker’s arm. After he let go, he stepped forward and made contact with Toklomati’s Achilles with his studs and the full weight of his body. Not seeing the exact point of contact, the referee issued a yellow card for a reckless challenge. He correctly issued a red card for serious foul play after video review.

CLT vs ATX: No goal (attacker handball)

Outcome: Charlotte #13 [Brandt Bronico] committed an attacker handball offense in the process of scoring a goal.

The final decision was that the goal [for Charlotte] was disallowed. Play restarted with a direct free kick [to Austin].

Length of review: 2:45

PRO’s opinion: A shot from Pep Biel (CLT) was deflected past goalkeeper Brad Stuver (ATX) and into the goal by Bronico (CLT), and the referee awarded a goal. The VAR determined that the ball struck Bronico’s arm before entering the goal. The referee was correct to disallow the goal for an attacker handball after video review.

As a reminder, while this would not have been penalized if the ball struck the arm of a defender in this manner, the Laws of the Game are clear when it comes to attacker handballs: “It is an offense if a players scores in the opponents’ goal directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper.”

This is a factual decision and the VAR/referee only need to conclude whether the ball touched the arm or not.

SKC vs SD: No goal (attacker handball)

Outcome: San Diego #90 [Amahl Pellegrino] committed an attacker handball offense in the process of scoring a goal.

The final decision was that the goal [for San Diego] was disallowed. Play restarted with a direct free kick [to Sporting Kansas City].

Length of review: 1:32

PRO’s opinion: Pellegrino (SD) shot at goal and the ball looped up and over the outstretched arm of John Pulskamp (SKC) and into the net. Not seeing that the ball came off his hand, the referee awarded a goal. The referee correctly disallowed the goal for an attacker handball after video review.

RBNY vs MTL: Penalty kick

Outcome: After review, New York #2 [Justin Che] fouled Montréal #10 [Iván Jaime] inside the penalty area.

The final decision was penalty.

Length of Review: 2:11

PRO’s opinion: Che (RBNY) made minor contact with the ball just before strong contact with Jaime’s (MTL) legs inside the penalty area, and the referee awarded a penalty kick. The VAR identified the touch on the ball by Che and recommended an on-field review. The referee determined that the touch on the ball did not dispossess Jaime and he would have been able to maintain control of the ball if not for the trip. The review was unnecessary and the referee was correct to maintain his original decision after video review.

Please note: These videos do not contain audio. They are a recording of the screen as viewed by the VAR in real-time.