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The Definitive Angle: MLS Matchday 6

by

PRO Media
4 Min Read
Video Review quad screen

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

Matchday 6 overview
There were five Video Reviews during Matchday 6.

TOR vs COL: Red card (serious foul play)

Outcome: After review, Colorado #99 [Jackson Travis] committed a serious foul play offense on Toronto #44 [Raheem Edwards].

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

Length of review: 1:39

PRO’s opinion: Travis (COL) made contact with Edwards’ (TOR) planted foot/leg without playing the ball. Believing that the contact was on the boot, the referee issued a yellow card for a reckless challenge. The VAR determined that the contact was above the boot and on the ankle, and that excessive force was used. The referee correctly issued a red card for serious foul play after video review.

TOR vs COL: Red card (DOGSO)

Outcome: After review, Toronto #44 [Raheem Edwards] fouled Colorado #13 [Wayne Frederick] outside the penalty area.

The final decision was a direct free kick [to Colorado Rapids] and a red card to Toronto #44 for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

Length of Review: 2:37

PRO’s opinion: As Frederick (COL) was about to control a pass from Keegan Rosenberry (COL), Edwards (TOR) made contact with his back. The referee saw this as minimal contact in real-time. This defender’s action clearly affected Frederick’s ability to control the ball with his chest and denied him an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. The referee correctly issued a red card for the DOGSO offense after video review.

HOU vs SEA: Yellow card (reckless challenge)

Outcome: After review, Seattle #25 [Jackson Ragen] committed a reckless challenge on Houston #10 [Ezequiel Ponce].

The final decision was a yellow card for a reckless challenge.

Length of review: 2:54

PRO’s opinion: After Ragen (SEA) had challenged Agustín Bouzat (HOU), Ponce (HOU) gained control of the ball, and the defender reached for it but made contact on the attacker’s leg. The referee issued a yellow card for a reckless challenge.

The VAR determined that contact occurred above the boot, on the ankle. The amount of force used is a subjective decision, and while the VAR accurately assessed the risk of injury at the point of contact, Ragen challenges from a stationary position and does not put his body weight into the challenge. The referee maintained their decision of a yellow card after video review.

SJ vs SD: Red card (DOGSO)

Outcome: After review, San Diego #26 [Manu Duah] fouled San Jose #19 [Preston Judd] inside the penalty area.

The final decision was a penalty [to San Jose Earthquakes] and a red card to San Diego #26 for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity with no attempt to play the ball.

Length of Review: 3:55

PRO’s opinion: Judd (SJ) got in front of Duah (SD), and the defender reached up and held the attacker’s right shoulder, which forced him to the ground. The referee awarded a penalty for this offense and, because there were no other defenders in a position to defend, issued a yellow card to Duah for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity while attempting to play the ball.

The VAR determined that at the moment of the offense, there was no attempt to play the ball, and the referee issued a red card after video review. Given the subjectivity of whether this is a challenge, PRO would have preferred that no review be recommended.

RSL vs SKC: No penalty

Outcome: After review, Kansas City #23 [Ethan Bartlow] did not foul Salt Lake #22 [Sergi Solans] inside the penalty area.

The final decision was no penalty.

Length of Review: 3:24

PRO’s opinion: Solans (RSL) was in the process of preparing to shoot at goal when he was challenged from behind by Bartlow (SKC). The referee did not view it as a foul, but the VAR determined that Bartlow deliberately reached out and pushed the attacker, and this affected his shot. Whether the contact on the back affected Solans’ shot is subjective, and the referee maintained his on-field decision because he did not see enough impact for him to change his original decision.

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