Question Number: 33158

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/18/2019

RE: Rec Adult

russell of Sydney, Australia asks...

Foul recognition " why did VAR overturn the straight red shown to Lindelof in the Wolves v Man U FA cup match.

Looking at the front on replays, I am surprised that the VAR officials marked this down as yellow only, effectively saying that Ref Atkinson's call was a clear and obvious error.

If it was, please talk me through as to why.

Fast forward to the 8:30 mark of the highlights.

https://www.yoursoccerdose.com/2019/03/16/wolverhampton-wanderers-vs-manchester-united-highlights/

Certainly, Lindelof did not lead with raised boots, and had 'bent' his legs a little, but he still clattered into the attacker in what many would call more the reckless, and with excessive force (and just what is excessive as different scenarios might have different levels).

Initially, watching live, I did not think it was a red, mainly as I did not think the collision was entirely the defenders fault, and in part due to the attacker manufacturing a bit of the foul as he risked his wellbeing and allowed the defender to collide into him. He surely must have known the defender was coming in hot.
Seeing the replays, and it seemed harder to argue against the straight red. And the...

Maybe the VAR team did not buy the Neymar like sideline roll from the attacker !

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Russell
I believe it was more reckless than using excessive force. I also think that there appeared to be a scissor type action in the challenge yet on replay it was shown that there was not and that the fall of the attacker made the contact look more serious than it actually was. The contact was more a trip rather than heavy contact.
I would say it was the right call to reverse the red card to a yellow as the safety of the opponent was not endangered.
There was a similar over turn in the Milan derby where the referee thought the player led with the studs showing into the opponent. On review it did look that way yet the player did not make any contact with that lead foot yet it was his trailing other foot that made the contact on the opponent. Again a correct over turn

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Russell ,
The tackle was not overly excessive, in my opinion , reasonable effort with bent knee, leading leg trips, body goes into but no studs and a caution is the better decision in my opinion if the REASONING for the red card was the CR or AR thought incorrectly it was studs up. Perhaps the CR or Ar both mentioned why the red card was chosen thus the VAR uses that to discount the initial decision? Given the match dynamics I felt the right decision was arrived at yet at the park level no one would be inconsolably freaked out if it was red.
Cheers

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 33165