The Definitive Angle: MLS Week 20
The Definitive Angle is PRO’s analysis of the week’s Video Review use in MLS.
Week 20 overview
There were three Video Reviews during Week 20.
ORL vs PHI: Review for goal (foul in APP) – not given
What Happened: A goal was scored by Iván Angulo (ORL) and awarded by the on-field officials. Ercan Kara (ORL) had gained possession of the ball after a challenge on José Martínez (PHI) and started an attack that resulted in a goal.
The VAR analyzed the available angles and saw that when the pair contested a bouncing ball, Kara had reached back with his arm and made contact with the neck and head of Martínez which put him to ground. He determined that this was a clear foul and recommended a review.
After Video Review, the referee disallowed the goal and awarded a direct free kick for a striking offense.
On-field decision: Goal.
Type of review: No goal – foul in APP.
Final decision after review: Direct free kick and yellow card.
Length of review: 1:50.
PRO’s Opinion: This foul started the APP and allowed Kara to start the attacking sequence. This was an efficient and effective use of the Video Review system to rectify a clear and obvious error.
LAFC vs SEA: Review for goal (handball) – not given
What Happened: A goal was scored by José Cifuentes (LAFC) and awarded by the on-field officials.
The VAR analyzed the available angles and determined that the ball went directly into the goal after touching the arm of Cifuentes and recommended an on-field review.
After Video Review, the referee disallowed the goal and awarded a direct free kick for a handball offense.
On-field decision: Goal.
Type of review: No goal – attacker handball.
Final decision after review: Direct free kick.
Length of review: 3:35.
PRO’s Opinion: The referee was unable to see the contact on the arm and awarded the goal because he believed Cifuentes had headed it cleanly. For an attacker handball infraction all that is required is for the ball to have touched the hand, deliberate or not. This was a good use of the Video Review system to overturn a clear and obvious error and disallow a goal for attacker handball.
What Happened: Rafael Czichos (CHI) challenged Jaroslaw Niezgoda (POR) for the ball. Czichos slid in to beat Niezgoda to a ball at the top of the penalty arc, and Niezgoda went to ground. The referee determined that this was a foul, and the offense denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and issued a red card.
The VAR analyzed the available angles, determined the challenge was fair, and recommended an on-field review. After Video Review, the referee rescinded the red card to Czichos and restarted the match with a drop ball.
On-field decision: Red card (DOGSO).
Type of review: No foul and no red card.
Final decision after review: Drop ball.
Length of review: 3:15.
PRO’s Opinion: The referee could not see that Czichos had made a clean and fair tackle to win the ball, and any contact after was incidental and not a foul. This was a good use of the Video Review system to reach the correct outcome.