VAR Review: Rashford red for Man United; handballs, offside

Video assistant referee (VAR) doesn’t seem to cause as much controversy in the Champions League, with the cream of Europe’s referees involved, but every now and then a match makes the headlines.

– How VAR decisions affected each Prem club in 2023-24
– VAR in the Premier League: Ultimate Guide

FC Copenhagen’s dramatic 4-3 win over Manchester United on Wednesday was filled with incident, with a VAR red card and two penalties, as well as possible offside decisions and handball claims. We take a look at all the drama.

39th minute: Rashford sent off

What happened: Marcus Rashford took control of the ball just outside the FC Copenhagen box under pressure from Elias Jelert. The Manchester United striker attempted to shield the ball, with the left-back falling to the ground after contact with the striker. Referee Donatas Rumsas allowed play to continue, but VAR Tomasz Kwiatkowski began a review for serious fouling.

VAR decision: Red card.

play

Why Burley has ‘no doubt’ Marcus Rashford deserved a red card

Craig Burley believes Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford deserved to be sent off for his tackle against FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League.

VAR Review: As has been explained in our Premier League VAR review in the past, certain elements are taken into account when assessing whether a player has endangered the safety of an opponent. One is the contact above the boot with the cleats, the other is the ankle buckle to indicate a force level.

Rashford is unfortunate in that he did not make a tackle, despite the intention being removed from the laws several years ago. Instead, a player is expected to know where their opponent is and not play in a way that could cause them injury.

Many former players have said they disagree with Rashford’s sending off, but in the modern game it still risks being a red card – especially when the video referee watches everything again .

There will be questions about showing the referee the incident in slow motion and a freeze frame of the point of contact. Yet the purpose of the pitchside monitor is still lost: the screen exists to present evidence for the referee to change his decision, not for a second look. It’s not an impartial process, but it’s not meant to be, because the whole point of the VAR process is that a clear and obvious error has already been identified. This will always be an area that fans will struggle to grasp, especially as lawmakers continue to refuse to allow the VAR discussion to be broadcast.

There was confusion because at one point the VAR message on the television said “check over” before the referee walked to the screen to make the decision. UEFA also initially incorrectly stated that the red card was for a flailing arm before correcting it for serious foul play.

45th minute: Possible offside on Elyounoussi’s goal

What happened: Mohamed Elyounoussi brought FC Copenhagen back into the match by blocking a pass from Diogo Gonçalves, but was there an offside against Elias Achouri?

VAR decision: The objective is maintained.

VAR Review: Achouri was definitely in an offside position when Elyounoussi fired his shot, so it remains to be seen whether Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana was hit or not. The fact that Achouri is in this position is not in itself an offense.

Was Achouri in Onana’s field of vision? It’s close, but it looks like Onana only has a view of the ball. The VAR would also take into account the fact that the shot went towards the left of Onana (rather than near Achouri).

Achouri also moves away from the path of the ball, rather than towards it, and makes no move to attempt to play it.

This is the kind of subjective decision that is left to the officials on the field. If the assistant had reported it, the goal would have remained disallowed.

45+7 minutes: Penalty for handball by Maguire

What happened: FC Copenhagen equalized deep into first half injury time when the referee awarded a spot kick for handball by Harry Maguire.

VAR decision: The penalty stands, marked by Gonçalves.

VAR Review: Gonçalves tried to push a cross played into the area, which came off Raphaël Varane’s thigh and fell on his arm. The defender had his arm at his side, so there was no handball here.

The ball then returned to Gonçalves, who tried to return it, but it hit Maguire’s outstretched arm and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.

If this decision was made by the match referee, there is no chance of VAR intervention, especially in Europe.

However, in the Premier League, which has a more relaxed interpretation of handball, the referee may well view the contact on Maguire’s arm as a consequence of his movement when challenging a nearby opponent.

66th minute: Penalty for handball by Lerager

What happened: The ball was played into the Copenhagen box, with Lukas Lerager challenging Maguire for the ball. He touched Lerager’s arm but the referee allowed the play to continue.

VAR decision: Penalty, scored by Bruno Fernandes.

VAR Review: This is a classic UEFA handball penalty, the kind that would not be awarded by a VAR decision in the Premier League. Indeed, Maguire avoided a handball penalty earlier this year in similar circumstances against Nottingham Forest.

Maguire sends the ball to his own hand, then to Lerager’s arm from close range. The FC Copenhagen player is in a real ball challenge with Maguire and Varane, has his arm in an expected position for his movement and does not create an obvious barrier.

If a player (Maguire) deliberately heads the ball and it hits his own arm, it cannot be handball, even if the arm is away from the body. It was then decided that the position of Lerager’s arm away from his body constituted a handball offense – despite the proximity.

Earlier this year, UEFA’s new football committee, made up of former players and coaches, called for more clarity on the handball law. However, it still seems confusing and frustrating, not to mention the inconsistencies from competition to competition.