A review of VAR decisions in the Premium liiga has acknowledged a key first-half error in Harju’s 2-2 draw with Paide, with match officials failing to award a penalty and not sending off the defender for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
Soccernet.ee’s “Videokohtunik” series, featuring analysis from Estonian Football Association refereeing department head Hannes Kaasik, looked back at incidents from rounds seven to 10 and cleared up several decisions that had remained disputed.
Kaasik said the opening six rounds were “very successful” for the video officials, but mistakes followed. He highlighted Harju v Paide in round eight, when a second-half VAR intervention correctly ruled out a goal, yet Harju were denied a first-half spot-kick and Paide were not reduced to 10 men.
The review pinpointed the 31st-minute incident, when Paide defender Gerdo Juhkam pushed Harju forward Karel Eerme in the back inside the area as the attacker moved into a one-on-one and prepared to shoot. Referee Jürgen Lorenz played on and VAR Martti Pukk did not recommend an on-field review.
“In the view of the referee and VAR, the push was not strong enough to be considered a penalty,” Kaasik said. “That assessment is incorrect because the context was not taken into account.
“In this case the attacker had a very good chance to score, and the push clearly affected his action. A penalty should have been awarded and the defender should have been shown a red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.”
Kaasik also referenced a busy ninth round, saying a correct VAR red-card intervention in Paide v Flora came amid other errors, including a penalty not given for Tammeka in their match against Harju for handball. He added that in United v Kuressaare and Kalju v Vaprus the defenders’ actions were not clear fouls with a clear impact, meaning VAR should not have intervened for penalties.
Across the first round of fixtures – 45 matches – Kaasik said there were 17 VAR interventions, with two further interventions missing. He described 14 as correct and accepted by the on-field referee, with one correct intervention rejected, one incorrect intervention rejected, and one incorrect intervention accepted.
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Source: https://soccernet.ee/artikkel/videokohtunik-oiendame-volad-penaltita-jaetud-harju-paases-voor-hiljem-ise-karistusest
