Question Number: 35872

Mechanics 2/2/2025

RE: Pro Adult

Aljaž Zorko of Maribor, / Slovenia asks...

Having a debate if this is a pen or not.

The defender obviously gets the ball first, but then trips the opponent in the penalty box. Would you give this as a pen? It was not given after VAR review. I'd say this isn't clear & obvious for a VAR intervention.


https://streamable.com/l8crkn

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi there Aljaž Zorko,
Any decision (be it correct or possibly wrong) is based on the view the referee has at that moment the incident occurs from the angle of view he had based on his knowledge of the LOTG. VAR is an additional set of eyes and has the ability to review the decision from multiple angles, slow motion and reverse stop start. They can not -demand- the CR change a decision, they can only suggest he review it. PKs are a big deal and even if the foul is pristine with 100% clarity the VAR still looks about if say if a missed offside might have been in the mix. I would disagree with your assessment because this event is exactly why VAR is valuable to get the call correct!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Aljaz
Thanks for the question.

This is a typical use of VAR. In real time the referee gave a penalty for what he believed was a trip with no contact on the ball.

VAR reviewed it and requested that the referee review the footage which resulted in an overturn of the decision.
If VAR believed it was a clear and obvious error it was a reason to intervene as it was a penalty decision. The fact that the decision got overturned was justification of the decision.

Perhaps you felt it was a penalty and therefore there was no need for VAR to get involved. That is not how it works. Every single incident gets reviewed in what is called a *silent check*. If VAR feels that the referee decision may be in error the referee is asked to review matters of opinion which is why the referee was asked to go to the monitor to look at the incident again using the available technology. The referee makes the final call based on the available footage of the incident. If a referee believes the call was correct then the original decision stands.

For what its worth I believe the defender got a toe to the ball and then there was contact on the attacker. As both were going in the same direction the contact was seen as a coming together in a challenge. On that basis the correct decision was a corner kick which is why VAR got involved.
A referee would not like to hear after the game that that a penalty decision was in error and it shown to be. It is also a significant loss of marks for the referee in an observation report if that were to happen.