Question Number: 35275

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 12/8/2023

RE: Amateur Adult

Mühenned Elseyho of Onikisubat, Kahramanmaras Turkey asks...

https://youtu.be/6KnrOph_yzE?feature=shared

When I see such cases, I feel frustrated. I ask you to express your opinion and explanation. Thank you

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mühenned,
So what exactly frustrates you?
The fact a PK was not awarded and you felt it should be?
The fact the ball was kicked out for a throw in due to an injury?
The fact VAR reviewed it all?
The fact the referee did not change the initial let it play decision to call a Pk after the review and they restarted with the throw in?
The fact they discounted the possibility the ball had actually crossed the goal line under the crossbar and between the posts for a goal ignoring the possibility the goal line technology not working correctly? ?

From my immediate perspective the ball was struck with ferocious pace. The keeper may have deflected it slightly. Did the player have time to react and misjudged the ball trying to head it away? Were the arms in an abnormal position when the ball contacted the arm? Had the ball not struck the player, a goal would have resulted. IF seeing it as a deliberate handling, the fact a goal is denied then a red card for DOGSO and they play a man down is also going to be added to the mandatory PK that would follow such a decision! There was a possibility too that the ball MIGHT have completely crossed the goal line, under the cross bar, between the posts and a GOAL was missed? .

The VAR along with the on field officials had to review, so it must NOT have been a crystal clear decision either way. The referee does not signal goal or PK after review but from Ronaldo's reaction I suspected white did not get decision they wanted! lol

The key aspect of VAR when working with the on field officials is ultimately get the call correct. Now to that end I believe they work hard to do so but that does not mean everyone agrees.
In grassroots the referee would get a crack at the decision in real time from outside the PA. At Grassroots no way could a referee determine for sure a goal was scored but MUST be convinced if one was unfairly denied to award the PK show the red card sending off the player reducing his team to 10. So a whistle for a PK DOGSO if that is what you are sure about! If the AR was looking across he MIGHT be convinced the ball had crossed the line and encourage the CR to award a goal. in which case no DOSGO no red card

In reality the consquences of taking away or awarding a goal plays a large part in how we arrive at a decision as does the very real misconduct attributed to doing or preventing either.
So the choices here were,
(1) Award the goal claiming the ball had completely crossed the goal line, under the cross bar, between the posts.
(2) Award the PK for deliberate handling showing the red card sending him off, reducing the team to 10
(3) Do nothing, play on, because you COULD NOT be certain either of the first too was true!
Like most things in this world your feelings simply are not part of the equation.
A referee with integrity calls what they see whether or not we agree!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mühenned
Following on from your last question this is certainly a grey area, middle of the scale decision on handling and it is certainly a subjective tough one.

We know looking at the video that the ball hits the players arm. Let me pose these questions.
1. Does the ball come at pace?
2. Does the player have his arm in a natural position?
3. Is the player looking at the ball and aware of its location?
4. Does the ball deflect slightly off the goalkeepers hand changing its path slightly ?
5. Does it look like the Red player was trying to head the ball?
6. Is there a player misjudgment here?
7. Is the ball coming through players?

Clearly VAR wanted to bring the incident to the referee’s attention with an on pitch review showing multiple camera angles. The referee opined that there was not enough in the action to call it deliberate handling. The difficulty for the game is that another referee might opine differently and call it with a penalty kick and a red card. Handling thresholds vary as any straw poll of referees will attest to.
The red card part makes it for me a decision that needs to be 100%. Where I had any real doubt I erred on the side of not calling it.

Now on a straw poll of referees it would not be 100% in favour of a penalty and a red card here. I know referees who would give it and also referees who would not. Therein is the problem for the game.

So for me it is part of the GAME. I see far too much focus on refereeing when in fact the referee has little if any impact on the outcome. Play well and win play, poorly and draw or get beaten.
I watched a team get beat 4-0 recently and the gripe with the losing team was the referee when in fact he had zero impact on the outcome.
In this game the game was won easily and the no penalty had little impact. A red card would have been significant for the game in the first 15 minutes.