OMONIA 29 – NEA SALAMINA minute 82nd
REFEREE'S INITIAL DECISION: RED CARD
VAR: RECOMMENDED AN OFR
REFEREE’S DECISION AFTER OFR: RED CARD CANCELLED
EXPLANATION: A DEFENDER PLAYED THE BALL WITHOUT ANY ILLEGAL CONTACT WITH HIS OPPONENT. GOOD ASSESSMENT MADE BY THE VAR AND CORRECTLY RECOMMENDED AN OFR.
OMONIA ARADIPPOU – ETHNIKOS minute 47th
REFEREE'S INITIAL DECISION: PLAY ON
VAR: RECOMMENDED AN OFR
REFEREE’S DECISION AFTER OFR: PENALTY KICK
EXPLANATION:A DEFENDER IN HIS OWN PENALTY AREA CLEARLY STEPPED ON OPPONENT’S FOOT. CORRECTLY RECOMMENDED AN OFR.
ARIS – AEL minute 66th
REFEREE'S INITIAL DECISION: PLAY ON
VAR: RECOMMENDED AND OFR
REFEREE’S DECISION AFTER OFR: PENALTY KICK
EXPLANATION:A DEFENDER INSIDE HIS OWN PENALTY AREA STEPPED ON FOOT Of HIS OPPONENT. CORRECTLY RECOMMENDED OFR.
APOLLON – OMONIA minute 55th
REFEREE'S INITIAL DECISION: YELLOW CARD – RECKLESS FOUL
VAR: CONFIRMED REFEREE’S DECISION
EXPLANATION: A DEFENDER CHALLENGED HIS OPPONENT WITH HIGH SPEED AND INTENSITY, USING STUDS MAKING SLIDING CONTACT , NOT FULL CONTACT WITH THE OPPONENT, WHICH SHOULD BE PENALIZED WITH YELLOW CARD – RECKLESS FOUL. THIS KIND OF INCIDENTS ARE NOT DEEMED AS „CLEAR AND OBVIOUS MISTAKE“ SO THE VAR SHOULDN’T BE INVOLVED.
ENP – ANORTHOSIS minute 9th
REFEREE'S INITIAL DECISION: GOAL ALLOWED
VAR: FACTUAL DECISION –HANDBALL – GOAL DISALLOWED
EXPLANATION: ACCORDING TO LAWS OF THE GAME IT’S AN OFFENCE IF A PLAYER SCORES A GOL AFTER THE BALL HAS TOUCHED HIS HAND/ARM EVEN IF ACCIDENTAL.
ENP – ANORTHOSIS minute 88th
REFEREE'S INITIAL DECISION: PLAY ON
VAR: RECOMMENDED AN OFR
REFEREE’S DECISION AFTER OFR: PENALTY KICK
EXPLANATION: A PLAYER TOUCHED THE BALL WITH HIS ARM WHICH WAS OUTSTRECHED AND OUT OF THE BODY. CORRECTLY RECOMMENDED AN OFR.
ENP – ANORTHOSIS minute 90th +7
REFEREE'S INITIAL DECISION: PLAY ON
VAR: RECOMMENDED AN OFR
REFEREE’S DECISION AFTER OFR: PENALTY KICK
EXPLANATION: A PLAYER TOUCHED THE BALL WITH HIS ARM WHICH WAS OUTSTRECHED AND OUT OF THE BODY. CORRECTLY RECOMMENDED OFR.
EXPLANATION ON VAR OFFSIDE LINES:
CFA, from the beginning of VAR implementation, use one of the best and the most reliable VAR technology including Offside software. The roles of the VAR and the Replay Operator in case of an offiside incident during the match are very clear and precise. The VAR will determine the player who is in a possible offside offence and the second last defender, then he will establish the point of the body of the mentioned players closest to the goal line. The Replay Operator will point the marks suggested by the VAR and the rest is up to the Offside software.
The offside line placed by VAR may appear not to be perfectly straight and parallel to the field lines due to the following factors:
1. Perspective and Camera Angle: VAR cameras are not always perfectly aligned with the field lines. The perspective of the image can create the illusion that the line is not parallel.
2. 3D Projection Technology: The VAR system uses a three-dimensional model of the field and players to position the offside line. This line is adjusted to the actual positions of the players rather than the visible field lines, which may appear distorted due to the camera angle.
3. Camera Lens Curvature: Depending on the type and field of view of the lens, there may be slight distortions in the image, making the lines appear non-straight.
4. Image Processing and Resolution: VAR lines are generated using data from multiple cameras and are digitally processed to be as accurate as possible. However, when displayed on a two-dimensional screen, they may appear slightly different from the field lines.
In reality, the VAR line is precise as it is based on algorithms and position detection technology, even if it visually appears not to align perfectly with the pitch markings, like in the clip on the next slide:
