Match Incidents Clarifications – Premier League Round 17 (According to the Laws of the Game)

Elimai – Zhenis

Min 74 – In the center of the field there is a challenge for the ball between away player 4 and home player 19. Away player 4 gives a small push on his opponent to control the ball and make him fall. As a reaction home player 19 already on the floor stretches the leg and luckily hit very slightly his opponent on the back of the leg. When away player feels that contact, he turns back and gives a small push on the head of home 19.

The referee, who was close and completely controlled the situation, has a perfect view and had a very good decision showing yellow card for both players for unsporting behavior as both contacts were not highly aggressive or with excessive force. Even if the action of home player could have been deemed as more dangerous it’s supportable to only give yellow card.

VAR technology was not working on this match due to technical problems not related with refereeing.

Kairat – Kaysar

Min 50 – Away player 10 kicks the ball towards the opponent’s penalty area. Inside the penalty area, home defender 89 and away attacker 2challenge for the ball.  Defender starts to jump very early behind attacker and knowing the attacker is in front of him. He jumps and much BEFORE the ball is even close, he hits the opponent’s head with his arm. Only after that, the ball hit his head at a moment that he his not even facing or looking at the ball. Even if his intention was to play the ball, the fact is that much time BEFORE he touched the ball, he had already hit opponent with the arm, knowing the opponent was there.

The Referee failed to see the contact with the arm.

VAR correctly intervened and advised the referee for an on-field review.

The referee’s final decision was correct as this is a clear foul and reckless foul by illegal use of arm.  

Min 78 – Already inside away team penalty area, home attacker 15 crosses the ball to the center of penalty area. Just in front away the defender slides to play the ball, and he plays the ball with the leg. Because of the normal movement of the body, the ball rebounds from the leg and goes directly under his arm, close to the body. The arm is in normal position for that body movement and the ball rebounds from its own body. No movement from the arm to the body.

The referee correctly allows play to continue as there is no handball.

The VAR correctly does not intervene as there is no foul.

Astana vs Turan

Min 90+1 – Already inside away team penalty area, goalkeeper makes a sliding tackle in an attempt to play the ball with the hands, when home player 81 was running fast with the ball controlled at his feet. Goalkeeper misses the ball and trip his opponent, making him fall.

The Referee was close and well positioned correctly awards penalty kick.

The VAR correctly do not intervene as it’s a clear foul by goalkeeper.