Question Number: 34506

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/16/2022

RE: Rec, Comp, High School High School

Peter Kilpatrick of Stockton, CA United States asks...

Was the red card in the Manchester United vs Brighton game on Feb 16 justified. From what I saw the defender was not the last defender, so would DOGSO be applicable? The tackle was not violent just sloppy. I would have stayed with the yellow that the referee initially gave.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Peter
When I looked at it first I thought it was a caution for stopping a promising attack and not a red card for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity. I felt that Webster the 2nd Brighton defender was well enough positioned to cover. At the Pro level though a blink of an eye can create an obvious goal scoring opportunity. There is a possibility that might have happened with perhaps an immediate shot on goal happening without the foul before the defender gets across which is what VAR opined. The cynical nature of the foul did not help the defender either as he had only one intention which was to stop the attacker advancing on to the ball. It denied the game an outcome that would have been interesting in terms of attack with United in a very promising position. The law is there to try to deter players from these egregious challenges that deny goal scoring opportunities.

Now at ground level looking straight on and at speed it may have looked to the referee that the 2nd Brighton defender Webster was close enough to Dunk's challenge to get across and therefore the obvious goal scoring opportunity was less likely. The VAR official thought from the aerial view that the four conditions for a DOGSO did exist at the moment of the offence and he asked the referee to review it pitchside which is what happened. The key moment in the review is the moment of the foul not what happens a few seconds later.

Without VAR the caution would not have been overturned and at grassroots this was also likely to be a caution. For what it is worth I did not like the referee being mobbed by United players seeking the DOGSO red card and fair play to the referee for not being initially influenced into the red although it may have swayed his discussion with the VAR on the mic and afterwards.

From my perspective it was one of those questionable ones, what one would call an "orange" card situations and at the Pro level orange situations can sometimes end up red as referees may be following strict advice and training from their hierarchy. Having said that I watched a video of a senior FIFA referee instructor speaking to senior referees on DOGSO red cards and his advice was that if there was a doubt to go with the caution as there would be more questioning of a dubious red card than a yellow. He was of the view that players, coaches etc will "buy" a yellow card rather than a dubious red one in questionable circumstances.

Final point is whether it was a clear and obvious error for VAR to intervene. I think it was not clear and obvious that a caution was incorrect so for me it should have been left at that. As always I would think that there was some "advice" in there on the training that asked VAR to correct positional decisions on DOGSO much like the seminar by the FIFA instructor who said that for example that if in doubt say on an attempt to play the ball to go with a caution if there is a hint of doubt. The VAR official may have had some advice on this in the recent past.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Peter,
As a general rule we are loath to comment on a real time decision, on the pitch, made by a referee from their angle of view! We are acutely aware that the arm chair slow motion video review can make a case or break a case of almost any controversial decision.
ITOOTR ( in the opinion of the referee) a decision is often suspect when a referee does one thing but VAR intervention seems to show a pressing need to do or undo what was jus acted upon? I suspect pro referees are acutely aware that if they fail to recognize that the criteria being currently taught is not followed they could lose their preferred status within the hierarchy of FIFA! Also we must remember, VAR only intercedes if they believe the referee has messed up in someway that is crucial to the match itself. There is protocol VAR follows not to undermine the referee but with the aim being, get the decision correct! A referee might be obligated to review a decision when the VAR is used but the referee is STILL the final word on the FOP. The referee will certainly answer to his peers and assessors in the post match and bear all the consequences of any decision made or not made for whatever explanation he can present as to how or why the decision is explained and accepted or rejected. I agree at the grassroot level likely only a caution since a red card is a fundamental impact on the game so you need to be 100% sure . Just my opinion of course but I seem to agree with your opinion ! lol
Cheers