Explanation of VAR situations from the matches of the 22nd match day of Cyprus League by Stoiximan.

OMONIA 29 – OMONOIA Nicosia minute 11th      

REFEREE'S INITIAL DECISION: DIRECT FREE KICK AND REDA CARD

VAR: RECOMMENDED AN OFR

REFEREE’S DECISION AFTER OFR: YELLOW CARD

EXPLANATION: A DEFENDER CHALLENGED HIS OPPONENT WITH SLIDING CONTACT, LOW INTENSITY, BENDING HIS LEG IN ORDER TO PROTECT HIS OPPONENT. THE VAR CORRECTLY RECOMMENDED OFR AND THE REFEREE CORRECTLY CHANGED HIS ORIGINAL DECISION.

OMONIA 29Μ – OMONOIA Nicosia minute 18th    

REFEREE'S INITIAL DECISION: PENALTY KICK

VAR: RECOMMENDED AN OFR

REFEREE’S DECISION AFTER OFR: HANDBALL OFFENCE IN APP, DIRECT FREE KICK

EXPLANATION: AN ATTACKER, IN BUILDING UP THE ACTION, USED HIS ARM COMMITTING A HANDBALL OFFENCE. THE VAR NOTICED THE INCIDENT VERY WELL AND RECOMMENDED AN OFR. CORRECTLY THE INITAL DECISON WAS CHANGED. 

OMONIA ARADIPPOU – PAFOS F.C. minute 24th    

REFEREE'S INITIAL DECISION: PLAY ON       

VAR: RECOMMENDED AN OFR

REFEREE’S DECISION AFTER OFR: PENALTY KICK 

EXPLANATION: THE REFEREE MADE A CORRECT DECISION ON THE FIELD OF PLAY BUT THE VAR RECOMMENDED OFR. THIS IS NOT A CLEAR AND OBVIOUS MISTAKE BY THE REFEREE AND THE OFR WAS NOT NECESSARY. IT WAS A VERY LIGHT CONTACT WHICH CAN’T BE DEEMED AS A FOUL PLAY.

OMONIA ARADIPPPOU – PAFOS minute 59th

REFEREE'S INITIAL DECISION:PENALTY KICK

VAR: VAR ONLY FACTUAL DECISION – INFORMED THE REFEREEA FOUL WAS COMMITTED OUTSIDE PENALTY AREA

REFEREE’S DECISION AFTER VAR INTERVENTION: DIRECT FREE KICK

EXPLANATION:AN ATTACKER WAS FOULED AND THE REFEREE AWARDED A PENALTY KICK. THE VAR CHECKED THE POSITION OF THE INCIDENT AND CORRECTLYINFORMED THE REFEREE (FACTUAL DECISION) THAT THE FOUL OCCURRED JUST OUTSIDE THE PENALTY AREA.

ENP - NEA SALAMINA minute 37th

REFEREE'S INITIAL DECISION:PENALTY KICK

VAR: CONFIRMED REFEREE’S DECISION

EXPLANATION:VERY GOOD COOPERATION AND TEAMWORK BETWEEN THE REFEREE AND THE VAR. THE REFEREE AWARDED THE PENALYT KICK FOR A HANDBALL OFFENCE. THE VAR CHECKED WHO PLAYED THE BALL ( ATTACKER KICKED THE BALL), THEN THE POSITION OF THE ARM AND IF THE OFFENCE OCCURRED INSIDE THE PENALTY AREA. AFTER FULL CHECK OF ALL THE ELEMENETS THE VAR CORRECTLY CONFIRMED REFEREE’S DECISION.

ARIS -AEK minute 54th

REFEREE'S INITIAL DECISION: GOAL KICK  

VAR: RECOMMENDED AN OFR

REFEREE’S DECISION AFTER OFR: RED CARD AND INDIRECT FREE KICK FOR AN OFFISDE OFFENCE

EXPLANATION: AFTER A CROSS INSIDE THE PENALTY AREA ONE DEFENDER USING HIS ELBOW PUNCHED HIS OPPONENT. IMMEDIATELLY AFTERWARDS ONE ATTACKING PLAYER, WHO WAS IN AN OFFSIDE POSITION, HEADED THE BALL TOWARDS THE GOAL. THE VAR CORRECTLY RECOMMENDED OFR FOR POSSIBLE VIOLENT CONDUCT OCCURRED INSIDE THE PENALTY AREA AND SHOWED ALL THE ACTION TO THE REFEREE. AFTER OFR THE REFEREE SHOWED THE RED CARD TO THE DEFENDING PLAYER AND DECIDED TO RESTART THE MATCH WITH AN INDIRECT FREE KICK FOR OFFSIDE OFFENCE. THE DISCIPLINARY ACTION TAKEN BY THE REFEREE (RED CARD) WAS CORRECT, BUT ACCORDING TO LAWS OF THE GAME HE WAS SUPPOSED TO RESTART THE MATCH WITH A PENALTY KICK SINCE THE FOUL – VIOLENT CONDUCT OCCURRED BEFORE AN OFFSIDE OFFENCE.

ARIS – AEK minute 83rd

REFEREE'S INITIAL DECISION: RED CARD

VAR: RECOMMENDED AN OFR

REFEREE’S DECISION AFTER OFR: YELLOW CARD

EXPLANATION:SLIDING CONTACT BETWEEN TWO PLAYERS. CONTACT WAS MADE WITH BODIES, LEGS WERE BENDED, NONE OF THEM ENDANGERED THE SAFETY OF HIS OPPONENT. CORRECTLY RECOMMENDED AN OFR.