Question Number: 35762

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/19/2024

RE: Pro Professional

MARV of Bowmanville, Ontario Canada asks...

In the 28th minute of the Arsenal vs Bournemouth FC match, Arsenal defender Saliba was dismissed (after VAR review) for DOGSO. It appeared to me, however, that the Bournemouth attacker was offside. Can you have DOGSO if the player with the obvious goal scoring opportunity is offside?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Marv
Thanks for the question.
There cannot be a denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity offence when there is an offside offence.
Had the Bournemouth player been offside that would have negated the Saliba offence and therefore no red card. The restart would have been an Arsenal IDFK.
VAR would have checked offside in the overall assessment of the incident.
If you look at it again the ball is played back by an Arsenal player and I assume either he did not see the Bournemouth attacker or a mis judgement or a mis kick towards the goalkeeper? As such it could not be offside.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Marv,
The referee originally cautioned Saliba showing a yellow card for SPA (stopping a promising attack ) or as we also know it the "professional foul" the challenge on Evanilson!
VAR obviously thought it was more than that and suggested to Rob Jones the referee he review his decision.

Although there was significant distance between the offence and the goal, Evanilson was on a straightaway beeline to the goal destined to reach the through ball before any of the Arsenal players creating one V one with the keeper.

I should note 2 things
(1) It was a suggestion, VAR is not CHANGING the CR decision but giving him reasons to reconsider. The final decision is still Rob's

(2) if there was the slightest chance of offside VAR would have intervened and an INDFK out would be the restart. VAR has to be 100% certain no offside was in play, because if the challenged opponent is a PIOP (player in an offside position) then NO DOGSO criteria is in play, thus no send off is possible, as no goal could be legally scored. Given that the ball was last touched and played by the Arsenal team Saliba was onside!
Cheers