Learn the penalty rules and adapt before significant costs

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Under the current rules, the Dundee United penalty on Saturday was a correct decision, as was the yellow card to Alexandro Bernabei.  If your arm is away from your body and the ball hits it, a foul is committed.  If this happens inside the box with VAR in attendance, this should lead to a penalty.  Outside the box, VAR will seldom intervene, so ridiculous examples of the genre, like Alexandro’s on Saturday, are less likely to be punished.  Fifa and VAR have inverted the ‘Outside the box it’s a foul all day’ rule.

The yellow card was also correct, if the arm stops an attempt at goal, a caution should be issued.  Taken in total, these rules will lead to game being decided by a high proportion of random events inside the penalty area.  Our experience in Madrid last week, where despite a good early showing, we were out of the contest due to penalties that would not have met the required criteria a few years ago, will happen again.

Defenders will also face increased jeopardy when on a yellow card.  Previously, they could make sure they did not get involved in an incident that would lead to a second yellow, but there is little can be done to prevent a ball changing direction towards you and hitting an arm when you are jumping, landing or twisting your body.

Corner kicks and long balls into the box will become more dangerous than ever before.  We will see the ridiculous scenario, where defenders jump and move around the box with their arms straight down, or behind their back, while attackers have the freedom to leverage their arms.  Hopefully the World Cup will be determined by such an event, ushering in a rapid rethink.

Yesterday, according to the referee, already-booked Hearts keeper, Craig Gordon, fouled Motherwell’s Louis Molt, who was clean through with only the keeper to beat.  The referee failed to show Craig a second yellow card.  I am not convinced it was a penalty kick in the first place, but if it was, not sending Craig off goes against the rules.  We need referees and VAR observers who can make better decisions, but as a Celtic fan, you have known that for generations!  *(not mentioning our visit to Tynecastle).

It was a great weekend that again proved how football often pivots on fine margins.  Seven points is a huge advantage, provides Celtic with breathing space and puts pressure on the also-rans who are now besieged.  Two years ago, it was Celtic and Neil Lennon in the spotlight.  It’s easier to look in from the outside and see the clear and obvious mistakes that happen when things are not going your way.  We’ll explore this tomorrow.

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  1. BIGRAILROADBLUES on 7TH NOVEMBER 2022 2:35 PM

     

    Big Jimmy

     

     

     

     

    That was eerily familiar to my conversation with Mrs BRRB on Saturday night. Then everything went dark.

     

    …………….

     

     

    I can believe it Mate.

     

    Ive been there myself many times in the past.

     

    LOL

     

    HH.

  2. 11. The period of play before and after an incident that can be reviewed is

     

    determined by the Laws of the Game and VAR protocol.

     

    12. As the VAR will automatically ‘check’ every situation/decision, there is no

     

    need for coaches or players to request a ‘review’

     

    2. Reviewable Match-changing Decisions/Incidents

     

    The referee may receive assistance from the VAR only in relation to four categories

     

    of match-changing decisions/incidents. In all these situations, the VAR is only used

     

    after the referee has made a (first/original) decision (including allowing play to

     

    continue), or if a serious incident is missed/not seen by the match officials.

     

    The referee’s original decision will not be changed unless there was a ‘clear and

     

    obvious error’ (this includes any decision made by the referee based on information

     

    from another match official, e.g. offside).

     

    The categories of decision/incident which may be reviewed in the event of a

     

    potential ‘clear and obvious error’ or ‘serious missed incident’ are:

     

    a. Goal/no goal

     

    • attacking team offence in the build-up to or scoring of the goal

     

    (handball, foul, offside, etc.)

     

    • ball out of play prior to the goal

     

    • goal/no goal decisions

     

    • offence by goalkeeper and/or kicker at the taking of a penalty kick or

     

    encroachment by an attacker or defender who becomes directly

     

    involved in play if the penalty kick rebounds from the goalpost,

     

    crossbar or goalkeeper

     

    b. Penalty kick/no penalty kick

     

    • attacking team offence in the build-up to the penalty incident (handball,

     

    foul, offside, etc.)

     

    • ball out of play prior to the incident

     

    • location of offence (inside or outside the penalty area)

     

    • penalty kick incorrectly awarded

     

    • penalty kick offence not penalised

     

    c. Direct red cards (not second yellow card/caution)

     

    • DOGSO (especially position of offence and positions of other players)

     

    • serious foul play (or reckless challenge)

     

    • violent conduct, biting or spitting at another person

     

    • using offensive, insulting or abusive action(s)

     

    d. Mistaken identity (red or yellow card)

     

    • If the referee penalises an offence and then gives the wrong player

     

    from the offending (penalised) team a yellow or red card, the identity

     

    of the offender can be reviewed; the actual offence itself cannot be

     

    reviewed unless it relates to a goal, penalty incident or direct red card.

     

    3. Practicalities

     

    Use of VARs during a match involves the following practical arrangements:

     

    • The VAR watches the match in the video operation room (VOR) assisted

     

    by an assistant VAR (AVAR) and replay operator (RO)

  3. Depending on the number of camera angles (and other considerations)

     

    there may be more than one AVAR or RO

     

    • Only authorised persons are allowed to enter the VOR or communicate with

     

    the VAR/AVAR/RO during the match

     

    • The VAR has independent access to, and replay control of, TV broadcast

     

    footage

     

    • The VAR is connected to the communication system being used by the

     

    match officials and can hear everything they say; the VAR can only speak

     

    to the referee by pushing a button (to avoid the referee being distracted by

     

    conversations in the VOR)

     

    • If the VAR is busy with a ‘check’ or a ‘review’, the AVAR may speak to the

     

    referee especially if the game needs to be stopped or to ensure play does

     

    not restart

     

    • If the referee decides to view the replay footage, the VAR will select the best

     

    angle/replay speed; the referee can request other/additional angles/speeds

     

    4. Procedures

     

    Original decision

     

    • The referee and other match officials must always make an initial decision

     

    (including any disciplinary action) as if there was no VAR (except for a

     

    ‘missed’ incident)

     

    • The referee and other match officials are not permitted to give ‘no decision’

     

    as this will lead to ‘weak/indecisive’ officiating; too many ‘reviews’ and

     

    significant problems if there is a technology failure

     

    • The referee is the only person who can make the final decision; the VAR

     

    has the same status as the other match officials and can only assist the

     

    referee

     

    • Delaying the flag/whistle for an offence is only permissible in a very clear

     

    attacking situation when a player is about to score a goal or has a clear run

     

    into/towards the opponents’ penalty area

     

    • If an assistant referee delays a flag for an offence, the assistant referee

     

    must raise the flag if the attacking team scores a goal, is awarded a penalty

     

    kick, free kick, corner kick or throw-in, or retains possession of the ball after

     

    the initial attack has ended; in all other situations, the assistant referee

     

    should decide whether to raise the flag, depending on the requirements of

     

    the game

     

    Check

     

    • The VAR automatically ‘checks’ the TV camera footage for every potential

     

    or actual goal, penalty or direct red card decision/incident, or a case of

     

    mistaken identity, using different camera angles and replay speeds

     

    • The VAR can ‘check’ the footage in normal speed and/or in slow motion but,

     

    in general, slow-motion replays should only be used for facts, e.g. position

     

    of offence/player, point of contact for physical offences and handball, ball

     

    out of play (including goal/no goal); normal speed should be used for the

     

    ‘intensity’ of an offence or to decide if it was a handball offence

     

    • If the ‘check’ does not indicate a ‘clear and obvious error’ or ‘serious missed

     

    incident’, there is usually no need for the VAR to communicate with the

     

    referee – this is a ‘silent check’; however, it sometimes helps the

     

    referee/assistant referee to manage the players/match if the VAR confirms

     

    that no ‘clear and obvious error’ or ‘serious missed incident’ occurred

  4. Gene – top man, who do we speak to? 🧐

     

     

    In all seriousness, it is the kind of thing FIFA should be focusing on. No real downsides that I can think of. Angeball would thrive with it 💚

  5. If the restart of play needs to be delayed for a ‘check’, the referee will signal

     

    this by clearly holding a finger to the earpiece/headset and extending the

     

    other hand/arm; this signal must be maintained until the ‘check’ is complete

     

    as it announces that the referee is receiving information (which may be from

     

    the VAR or another match official)

     

    • If the ‘check’ indicates a probable ‘clear and obvious error’ or ‘serious

     

    missed incident’, the VAR will communicate this information to the referee,

     

    who will then decide whether or not to initiate a ‘review’

     

    Review

     

    • The referee can initiate a ‘review’ for a potential ‘clear and obvious error’ or

     

    ‘serious missed incident’ when:

     

    – The VAR (or another match official) recommends a ‘review’

     

    – The referee suspects that something serious has been ‘missed’

     

    • If play has already stopped, the referee delays the restart

     

    • If play has not already stopped, the referee stops play when the ball is next

     

    in a neutral zone/situation (usually when neither team is in an attacking

     

    move) and shows the ‘TV signal’

     

    • The VAR describes to the referee what can be seen on the TV replay(s) and

     

    the referee then:

     

    – Shows the ‘TV signal’ (if not already shown) and goes to the referee

     

    review area to view replay footage – ‘on-field review’ (OFR) – before

     

    making a final decision. The other match officials will not review the

     

    footage unless, in exceptional circumstances, asked to do so by the

     

    referee

     

    or

     

    – Makes a final decision based on the referee’s own perception and the

     

    information from the VAR, and, where appropriate, input from other

     

    match officials – VAR-only review

     

    • At the end of both review processes, the referee must show the ‘TV signal’

     

    immediately followed by the final decision

     

    • For subjective decisions, e.g. intensity of a foul challenge, interference at

     

    offside, handball considerations, an ‘on-field review’ (OFR) is appropriate

     

    • For factual decisions, e.g. position of an offence or player (offside), point of

     

    contact (handball/foul), location (inside or outside the penalty area), ball out

     

    of play, etc. a VAR-only review is usually appropriate but an ‘on-field review’

     

    (OFR) can be used for a factual decision if it will help manage the

     

    players/match or ‘sell’ the decision (e.g. a crucial match-deciding decision

     

    late in the game)

     

    • The referee can request different cameras angles/replay speeds but, in

     

    general, slow-motion replays should only be used for facts, e.g. position of

     

    offence/player, point of contact for physical offences and handball, ball out

     

    of play (including goal/no goal); normal speed should be used for the

     

    ‘intensity’ of an offence or to decide if it was a handball offence

     

    • For decisions/incidents relating to goals, penalty/no penalty and red cards

     

    for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO), it may be

     

    necessary to review the attacking phase of play which led directly to the

     

    decision/incident; this may include how the attacking team gained

     

    possession of the ball in open play

     

    • The Laws of the Game do not allow restart decisions (corner kicks, throw-

     

    ins, etc.) to be changed once play has restarted, so they cannot be reviewe

  6. For me VAR is an arse and is ruining the game. The delays affect the celebration of a goal and kills the atmosphere. We would be better leaving the decision to the MIB rather than a group of MIBs who have time to think of a reason not to award Celtic the goal.

     

     

    In addition, there has to be better communication for the fans. The possible Red Card decision on Saturday just frittered away with no clear explanation. It was clearly a foul and at the very least a yellow

     

     

    VAR officials are not all Huns. On Saturday, the Assistant was Sean Carr who I can assure you is not from the dark side.

  7. If play has stopped and restarted, the referee may only undertake a ‘review’,

     

    and take the appropriate disciplinary sanction, for a case of mistaken

     

    identity or for a potential sending-off offence relating to violent conduct,

     

    spitting, biting or extremely offensive, insulting and/or abusive action(s)

     

    • The review process should be completed as efficiently as possible, but the

     

    accuracy of the final decision is more important than speed. For this reason,

     

    and because some situations are complex with several reviewable

     

    decisions/incidents, there is no maximum time limit for the review process

     

    Final decision

     

    • When the review process is completed, the referee must show the ‘TV

     

    signal’ and communicate the final decision

     

    • The referee will then take/change/rescind any disciplinary action (where

     

    appropriate) and restart play in accordance with the Laws of the Game

     

    Players, substitutes and team officials

     

    • As the VAR will automatically ‘check’ every situation/incident, there is no

     

    need for coaches or players to request a ‘check’ or ‘review’

     

    • Players, substitutes and team officials must not attempt to influence or

     

    interfere with the review process, including when the final decision is

     

    communicated

     

    • During the review process, players should remain on the field of play;

     

    substitutes and team officials should remain off the field of play

     

    • A player/substitute/substituted player/team official who excessively shows

     

    the ‘TV signal’ or enters the RRA will be cautioned

     

    • A player/substitute/substituted player/team official who enters the VOR will

     

    be sent off

     

    Match validity

     

    In principle, a match is not invalidated because of:

     

    • malfunction(s) of the VAR technology (as for goal line technology (GLT))

     

    • wrong decision(s) involving the VAR (as the VAR is a match official)

     

    • decision(s) not to review an incident

     

    • review(s) of a non-reviewable situation/decision

     

    Incapacitated VAR, AVAR or replay operator

     

    Law 6 – The Other Match Officials stipulates: “Competition rules must state clearly

     

    who replaces a match official who is unable to start or continue and any associated

     

    changes.” In matches using VARs, this also applies to replay operators.

     

    As special training and qualifications are needed to be a video match official

     

    (VMO)/replay operator, the following principles must be included in competition

     

    rules:

     

    • A VAR, AVAR or replay operator who is unable to start or continue may only

     

    be replaced by someone who is qualified for that role

     

    • If no qualified replacement can be found for the VAR or replay operator, *

     

    the match must be played/continue without the use of VARs

     

    • If no qualified replacement can be found for the AVAR, * the match must be

     

    played/continue without the use of VARs unless, in exceptional

  8. theBHOYfromU.N.C.L.E on

    Seen somewhere that with VAR disruption and Utd keeper injury in the first half it amounted to just under 8 minutes…..ref calls 5 mins when it is stated no time shall be lost in the event of VAR stoppages, basically cheating us at will with no comebacks.

     

     

    Also big Jenz got booked after Kyogo goal for uprooting corner flag with his boot……..is that an offence?

  9. BIGRAILROADBLUES on 7TH NOVEMBER 2022 2:40 PM

     

     

    Never heard of them, did they do a cover of the Bananerama classic?

  10. SAINT STIVS on 7TH NOVEMBER 2022 2:40 PM

     

    ………………

     

    SOUNESS…

     

     

    This CHUMP only serves my opinion that many Ex Players ( and CURRENT Fitba Players) arent too BRIGHT.

     

    There are a few exceptions of course…but only a few.

     

    HH Mate

  11. Not been in the blog for a few days …

     

     

    Anybody else think this season is reminiscent of the centenary season ….

     

     

    If you get a chance listen to SSB when United equalise on Saturday

     

     

    It’s hilarious …. especially when wee Kyogo puts us back in front 🇯🇵

  12. GFTB – At fracture clinic the noo mate. Been waiting for an hour so plenty of time to waste.

     

     

    My malingering will continue until January mate…..jealous much? Lol

  13. AoW 2.56pm

     

     

    As long as your on the mend …

     

     

    A wee Monday flex day for me, just at the school picking the wee granddaughter up

     

     

    The school run fair bears Monday phones :-)

  14. bigrailroadblues on

    Art of War

     

    GFTB calling anyone a malingerer is a laugh. Coming from the man who has 4 hour lunch breaks. 😜

  15. ARMS in UNNATURAL POSITION ?

     

     

    Its NOT ONLY Fitba that are affected by ARMS being in an UNNATUARL POSITION.

     

    For many years now, Ive observed MANY Wummin walking along the street with their Pals and having their ARMS FOLDED across their Chest, whilst Walking and Talking at the same time.

     

    I honestly do NOT know how they do it ?

     

     

    The ONLY times that Ive seen a MAN doing likewise, is NOT on the streets, but Fitba Managers pacing up and down the Touchline, and sometimes their arms are ” Folded”…and/or some in other sports apart from Fitba ?

     

     

    Just a wee observation…

     

    HH

  16. Big Jimmy, you should see the section devoted to what size of logos etc are allowed on shirts and shorts…..

     

     

    They drown themselves in manure and dress it up as administration.

     

     

    312 pages long as well……

  17. I was the manager of the most Protestant and royalist club in Britain, at Glasgow Rangers, I respect McCleans right not to wear a poppy, it is his call, and his family should not be subject to threats, however he should have thought about that earlier when he started out on this (eh), and being from Londonderry , or Derry as some people refer to it, he might have family or friends who were affected back in the day, but the UK didnt get everything right there, and that thing that happened , that was one of those moments

     

     

    —-

     

     

    Was there someone on hand to put these words into a coherent statement ?

     

     

    Wtf is the man saying ?!

  18. ART OF WAR on 7TH NOVEMBER 2022 3:06 PM

     

    Big Jimmy, you should see the section devoted to what size of logos etc are allowed on shirts and shorts…..

     

     

     

     

     

     

    They drown themselves in manure and dress it up as administration.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    312 pages long as well……

     

    ……………..

     

    NO thanks mate, I get your drift.

     

    LOL

     

    HH.

  19. BRRB 3.01pm

     

     

    Shhoooosh

     

     

    Probably that Friday was one of my most productive Fridays

     

     

    I do the hard graft Tuesday-Thursday :-)

  20. Art of War

     

     

    Thanks for Var posts.

     

     

    Hope the injuries are healing and your improving.

     

     

    In tech terms I do not get its implementation.

     

    To me Var will only work when

     

     

    1.real time(what ref is seeing) is shown firstly the foul

     

     

    2.real time recordings of all mic’s from all officials.ie the convos determining rule/law broken and why var gave foul.

     

     

    3.by real time I mean open to us to see why the foul is given

     

     

    4.There is no need for the delays,in tech terms.none,zero.thats why it looks a mess,why not have a ref mic’d up asking rule 1,2,etc to check,and show it on bigscreen/or telly as check is ongoing

     

     

    5.i would like to see the clock timed on var and automatically added to end.

     

     

    Var still has a long way to go,but like with all tech we have an assumption of what var rules are/biases etc your post defines them.ta for such clarity

     

     

    Hail Hail

  21. bournesouprecipe on

    Quadbhoy @ ages ago

     

     

    Like offside, the rules have been changed so many times, interpretations are overtaken by misinterpretations, they should have left handball the way it was ball to hand or hand to ball. The Celtic decisions we obviously take personally but in the game at large outwith the team you support. the handball rule at present is nonsensical.

     

     

    VAR picking up ‘penalties’ in nearly every game played compounds, the rule.

  22. SAINT STIVS on 7TH NOVEMBER 2022 3:41 PM

     

    mcgregor wtf.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    https://twitter.com/i/status/1589244830739476480

     

    ………………….

     

    I watched that McGregor CHUMP taking THAT ” FLAKEY” during the Huns game yesterday. It seems he was PROTESTING about the St Johnstone player, who was on the ground having the CHEEK to try and put the Ball in the Net, as the Ball was loose.

     

    McGregor has a CHEEK complaining about any challenge on him, as it was HIM who almost took a Hibs players HEID AFF, after kicking the Ball upfield at the edge of his Penalty area.

     

    McGregor ( Quite Rightly) got a STRAIGHT RED Card for that assault on the Hibs man.

     

    The St Johnstones boot was nowhere near McGregor as they lay on the ground……McGregor was trying to CHEAT and get the St Johnstone player into bother with the Ref, for a NON EXISTANT Challenge……Simples !

     

    HH mate.

  23. I think that all these VAR ‘teething problems’ will be ironed out if, as it looks like Sevco implode, and we go ahead by double figures, funny that.

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