What happened:
After Sadílka’s long drive into the box and a few jams, the ball ended up with Puskáč, who sent Alégué into the break. He took the ball about 35 meters from his own goal and, because he was about to make contact with the defending Suchomel, poked the ball past him. At that moment he was attacked, Suchomel stopped him without the possibility to play the ball. If he hadn’t fouled, Alégué would have gone at Vindahl alone.
The referee blew his whistle, took a moment and in the end only drew a yellow card for thwarting a promisingly developing offensive action. According to the rules, “a game situation that would allow the defending player to directly threaten the goal after one or two passes is considered a promising offensive action.”
But from the available footage, it is clear that the Cameroonian player would have gone on to score on his own without Suchomela’s foul. The closest Spartans were at least six meters behind and probably wouldn’t have caught Alégué.
Since Alégué had a big lead, he would with a high probability finish alone. Such a situation should not have been judged as the foiling of a promisingly developing offensive action, but as the foiling of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity with a subsequent red card.
The rules are clear
“The referee shall exclude a player, substitute or substituted player who prevents the opponent’s team from achieving a goal or thwarts an obvious opportunity for the opponent to achieve a goal by stopping an opponent who is generally aiming at his goal with an offense for which a direct free kick is awarded.
In doing so, the following must be taken into account: The distance of the place of the offense from the goal, the direction of the offensive action, the probability of maintaining or gaining control of the ball, the position and number of defending players,” the rules state.
Although the distance was greater, however, since the player would go to the gate alone with a large lead, it does not play such a role. More importantly, Alégué was fouled by the last defender, in control of the ball and headed for goal. The other Spartans were far away, with no possibility or very little chance of catching up with Alégué. This is where VAR should have intervened and Suchomel should have been sent off.
Clear cards, the referee did not see the fouls
The match was full of such moments. E.g. In the 35th minute, Solbakken hit Hurtado with the sole. Fortunately, the pins only brushed against the shin instead of direct contact, otherwise it could have ended in a nasty injury. He should have received a yellow card for this tackle, but the referee successfully ignored the situation.
Shortly afterwards Sadílek and Holý clashed. Repeated footage showed that Sadílek stepped on Holé’s ankle and the shin visibly bent. Here, the referee should have at least awarded a yellow card, VAR could have even decided on a red card. Both non-whistle situations eventually escalated into an ugly skirmish a few minutes later.
Where was the VAR?
Assessing the situation in real time at high speeds is not easy and everyone can make mistakes. I totally understand that. But VAR has the possibilities and tools to correct similar moments in the spirit of fair play. At least, I assume this is how VAR should work. Not bending the rules to suit.
Interestingly, the referees’ commission did not comment on the moments from the 55th minute in the statement on Monday. At the same time, in Hradec’s match with Baník, she received a red card for a situation that was much less of a thwarted obvious scoring opportunity than this one. Even earlier, on the other hand, she claimed quite incomprehensible that Vitík’s two-handed foul on Dweh in Pilsen was not even a misdemeanor.
