Confirming what just about everyone who was watching could see, PRO has determined that a mistake was made in not awarding a penalty in last Saturday’s game when Obed Vargas’ shot struck Joakim Nilsson’s arm in the 70th minute.
“The referee was incorrect to maintain his decision of no penalty after video review,” PRO said in its weekly review of all VAR decisions. “The ball continued on the same general trajectory toward the goal after it had hit Nilsson’s thigh and struck the arm, which was away from his body, and made him unnaturally bigger. This was not a successful block with the body because there was no clear change in the direction of the ball. A penalty should have been awarded.”
This is in obvious contrast to the statement referee Lorenzo Hernandez made immediately following the game.
“The shot was first blocked successfully by the defender’s thigh/hip and then the ball went up into his arm,” Hernandez wrote in an official response to the pool reporter’s question. “His arm was in a justifiable position for someone trying to block the ball with his body, and this is the reason a penalty kick was not awarded.”
Included in the PRO post was video footage of the review process, albeit missing the audio components, so we don’t actually get to hear the real-time discussion between VAR and Hernandez.
At the root of this decision is some nuance to the handball rule that was recently instituted, which was designed to allow defenders more consideration when acting in a “justifiable manner.” Essentially, it was determined that if a defender first blocks a kick with a playable part of their body and the ball makes a clear change in trajectory before striking their arm — assuming it’s in a justifiable position — the handling is considered inconsequential. Similar consideration is supposed to be given when a defender goes to ground and the ball strikes their supporting arm.
In this case, however, Vargas’ shot at most grazed Nilsson’s thigh, did not make any clear trajectory change and was still otherwise headed on goal.
Luckily, the call did not impact the outcome of the match. The Sounders were leading 2-1 at the time and eventually won 4-1.
