The Latvian Football Federation has published explanations from its Referees’ Department regarding the key incidents in the decisive Virslīga promotion/relegation match, stating that referee Andris Treimanis made the correct decisions in issuing two red cards and awarding a penalty.
On Sunday, FK Grobiņa won the second leg of the playoff 1-0 against JDFS Alberts, securing their place in the 2026 Virslīga. However, the match will be remembered far more for the refereeing decisions and the post-match confrontation involving Alberts supporters and the match officials – an altercation that escalated to the level of threats.
After the match, Treimanis commented on the situation on social media, as well as both JDFS Alberts head coach Arturs Zakreševskis and the Latvian Football Federation later issued their own statements on the incident.
Today, the Latvian Football Federation also released the Referees’ Department’s official breakdown of the key episodes. Here are their explanations:
- Handball and penalty decision:
“The defender’s arm, when making contact with the ball, is not in a natural position and is clearly outside the body. From the referee’s recommended position it was impossible to identify this obvious offence. VAR correctly recommended an on-field review, after which the referee made the correct decision by awarding a penalty.”
2. Denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity (DOGSO):
“The defender runs too close to the attacker and carelessly creates contact from behind, tripping the opponent. Given that this foul denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity, VAR recommended an on-field review, after which the referee correctly awarded a direct free kick from the spot of the foul and sent off the player.”
3. Second yellow card / sending off:
“The attacker makes a clear hand movement toward the opponent’s head and strikes it. This is a reckless offence and the player is correctly cautioned. As he had already received a yellow card earlier in the match, he was correctly sent off for a second caution. Before this incident, the defender’s arm may have lightly touched the opponent’s head, but there is no clear hand movement toward the head and therefore no clear offence.”
In its concluding remarks, the LFF added:
“Andris Treimanis and his team are a highly trusted international refereeing crew who officiated this match and are regularly appointed to important UEFA and FIFA fixtures. His decisions in this match were correct. There were safety issues involving spectators during and after the game. We wish to emphasise that such behaviour is unacceptable in football, and the LFF will take all necessary measures to avoid similar incidents in the future in order to protect referees and the image of the sport.”
Source: https://lff.lv/zinas/18669/tiesnesu-nodalas-skaidrojumi-par-spelu-epizodem-oktobri-un-novembri/
