LA Galaxy’s forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic is upset with Major League Soccer’s video replay after another recent incident in his game against New York City FC.
On a forward attacking play, the Galaxy missed two shots on goal. Ibrahimovic was standing near the goal line when NYCFC goalkeeper, Sean Johnson, rammed into him. Ibrahimovic turned and lightly put a hand on Johnson’s neck. Johnson then took Ibrahimovic down to the ground. Johnson proceeded to lay on the ground holding his head.
The referee did not go to a video assistant referee when he should have.
“I said afterwards to look at VAR because that’s why we have this VAR. But he didn’t look at it or didn’t review the other ones.” Ibrahimovic said.
He later commented on not offering VAR in MLS if the referees aren’t going to use it.
Image courtesy of Getty Images
D.C. United and Columbus also had a run in with unfair VAR calls during their game.
The most controversial was when the referee, a United and a Columbus player ran into each other. Seconds later Columbus had scored but the ref looked at the video review to check for interference. It was clear that it wasn’t a foul on the Columbus player, but rather interference from the ref. He did not allow the Columbus goal and gave a penalty to United to “bail himself out.”
United had also faced VAR for their game 1-0 loss against Minnesota where United’s Frederic Brilliant interfered with Minnesota’s keeper Vito Mannone. Brilliant lightly placed onto Mannone’s right arm, which he may not have been able to reach for Rooney’s aerial ball anyways, that in turn had VAR suggest video assistance when it should not have been recommended.
Soccer is in a new era of trying to figure out what fouls will be allowed and which ones won’t. They will continue to try and reinvent the rules.
As for now, VAR should be working with referees to say which fouls deserve which calls so everyone is on the same page.
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