Question Number: 34669

Mechanics 8/20/2022

Crebs Crem of Zagreb, Croatia asks...

Hello,

In the following scenario, should VAR intervene?

Team A player takes a shot, the ball deflects from team B player and heads out of play. Another team B player tries to prevent the ball from going out of play for a corner kick and therefore kicks the ball into the pitch as the ball was near the goal line. However, team A player receives the ball and scores a goal. Then, VAR realises that the ball was out for a corner kick as team B player was trying to prevent the ball from going outside the pitch.

The the scenario above, can VAR advice the centre referee to disallow the goal and restart the play with a corner kick? Or, should VAR not intervene since the infringement has not been committed by the player of the attacking team?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Crebs
As the ball was out of play leading up to a goal VAR will intervene on what is a matter of fact of the ball being out of play. A corner kick direction decision is not VAR reviewable so if the officials get that wrong so be it. It’s just part of play.
The reason is the VAR protocol does not want every decision in the game to be subject of a review only major decisions. This is because the VAR will only check the attacking possession phase that led to the goal, and the starting point is limited to the immediate phase, in this case trying to keep the ball in play.
It makes no difference who is trying to keep the ball in play and it is a matter of fact that the ball was out of play. The restart is a corner kick.