Question Number: 33885

Mechanics 2/16/2020

RE: International Professional

Steve Debus of Crofton , MD USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 33863

As a follow-up, I understand the AR making the call was disciplined, but the rest of the crew should also have been able to overcome the clearly wrong offside call. How did the CR, other AR, 4th official and VAR not ask the question of how you can call offside on a corner? There was at least 30 seconds before play restarted. They have communications. It seems like no one considered or was willing to admit a mistake. I am not sure why the entire crew was not disciplined. After safety, getting calls right is our first duty. Were they worried about looking bad for overturning a call?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steve
Ultimately it is up to the referee to get the call right on what is an obvious call.
I think in the current era referees just blindly follow AR decisions without considering it from their own perspective,
Throw in the fact that they are now all miked up one would think that at least the 4th official or the trail AR should have brought it to the attention of the referee.
Anyway the AR took the rap for it and she was sent home. Perhaps there were not enough officials to relieve all 4 of their duties. The trail AR was selected for the semi final and the referee got a 4th official in match #6 plus the 4th official got a game.
BTW there was no VAR present which one would have hoped if it was present to have picked it up.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Steve,
There was no VAR in this game (or any of the games in this tournament) but you're right, the other members of the match officials' team should have realised the obvious error and intervened. Why they didn't, I really couldn't say.