Question Number: 35874

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/3/2025

RE: Adult

AEK Fan Club Of NY of ASTORIA, NY USA asks...

Did the defender deliberately hit the offensive player, and was it a red card and penalty? https://youtu.be/FVIE4ryJFXU?feature=shared&t=114

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi AEK
The video is inconclusive.
From what I see the contact does not look like a violent conduct strike.

One of the unwanted consequences of VAR is that players want even the most minimal of contact reviewed and exaggerate the incident to ensure that happens.

An AR would be looking across at this and there may be other camera angles not shown.

For me I would not be going with a penalty and a red card.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi AEK,

Similar to my answer to question #35875, I agree with my colleague ref McHugh that is difficult to tell from the video and I'd also be leaning towards no penalty offence here, while again pointing out that the match officials (at least on most occasions) are generally in the best position to judge.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI AEK,
You certainly wish players would keep the hands away from the faces of the opposition but it looked like very weak or marginal contact. It was kind of like a wave of just go away. The fact the attacker made a meal out of it hoping to get that PK from VAR review is why they act like they do! If we stop play to not give a foul perhaps a card for simulation is needed? I see a great amount of what I call needless contact go uncalled if it happens a bit away from the action and there is recovery time. Like that knock over on the goal when the yellow attacker scores with an outside thunder shot, the stripped player was bowled over for no reason other than he was pushed as the corner kick was taken? Marginal or trifling to outcome, perhaps, that action did not truly affect how it played out, but it was in my opinion, a definite foul.
Cheers