Question Number: 34899

Law 8 - The Start and Restart of Play 3/2/2023

Crebs Crem of Zagreb, Croatia asks...

Hi,

I wish to ask a question regarding APP concept of VAR protocol.

Assume that team A is taking a free kick. Before the free kick is taken, player B2 takes down player A5 inside the penalty area but the referee misses it. Immediately after that, free kick is taken by player A10 but the cross is cleared by team B and team B starts a counter attack and scores a goal.

In the scenario above, assume that VAR is in use. Obviously, since the ball was not in play when player B2 takes down player A5, penalty cannot be awarded. However, since a goal has been scored, the APP will be checked by VAR. At this point, how far can VAR go back prior to the goal? Can VAR inform the referee on the pitch that the goal shall be disallowed and free kick by team A shall be retaken?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Crebs,
you have a fertile imagination lol.
So lets say the free kick is simply that.
A trip at 40 yds out by the touchline in flavor of team A. A10's idea is to kick the ball in behind the defense of B into the PA for a scramble.
Here is what is important, the "TIMING" of this secondary event.
IF, as you say B2 was to kick, punch, slap, spit, etc. into A5 BEFORE A10 was to restart play that action is ONLY misconduct and while punishable with red send off or yellow caution card for the act itself, the restart WOULD remain the same. So the counter attack by B if it scored BEFORE this information was realized that goal would still count. The B player would then be disciplined according to the nature of the MISCONDUCT!

It could be a different story if this misconduct act took place AFTER A10 had restarted play . Then the act by B2 is a foul on the FOP while the ball is in play. As it was MISSED and as new information the B team goal could not be allowed and the restart awarded for what the foul was. This would have to occur BEFORE any restart in-between or after the goal like a kick off. I assume VAR would be going ballistic on the headphones before very long if play needed to be halted!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
One of the key factors in VAR is that referees should not allow play to restart when a review is required. If play restarts then the opportunity to deal with the incident has passed from a restart point of view.
So in your example the goal is awarded. If the incident merited a red card for violent conduct the player can be shown a red card yet the restart does not change which would be a kick off.
Good mechanics should prevent this from happening by the referee being in contact with the VAR official to halt play before the first restart and dealing with the misconduct. If that did not happen then play should be halted in a neutral zone pretty quickly afterwards.