The Professional Referee Organization answered questions about refereeing decisions made during Sunday's game between Atlanta United and New York Red Bulls at Mercedes-Benz Stadium:
Was the replay system properly used on Josef Martinez's goal and was the cancellation of the goal the correct call? Why?
Yes, the (replay system) was properly used as all incidents in the Attacking Possession Phase (APP) are checked leading to a goal, penalty or Denial of Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO) red card. On the play in question, Martinez of Atlanta United scored a goal. However, in the APP leading to that goal, Martinez stepped on the back of the heel of Tim Parker, which altered his running stride. Had Martinez not clipped Parker, it is extremely unlikely that he would have had a free run on goal. The VAR checked the footage and on doing so saw that Martinez's foot had make contact on the heel of Parker, causing Parker to go down and giving Martinez a clear run on goal, from which he scored. As such a review was recommended and after reviewing the footage in the Referee Review Area (RRA) the referee correctly disallowed the goal.
Was the VAR and replay system properly not used on the penalty in the 42nd minute? Was the penalty given the correct call? Why?
Yes, the VAR appropriately did not intervene. As the ball was played forward into the ATL penalty area, Bradley Wright-Phillips of the New York Red Bulls went down under challenge from Atlanta United defender Miles Robinson. There was upper-body contact from Robinson on Wright-Phillips. However, this was a subjective call. From the viewpoint of the VAR, the award of the penalty kick was not a clear and obvious error and as such, the VAR correctly did not intervene.
Was the replay system properly used on the Jeff Larentowicz red card? Was that the correct call?
Yes, Having shown a red card for serious foul play to Larentowicz of Atlanta United, the referee Chris Penso received a recommendation from the VAR Mark Geiger to review the play. The footage showed that while Larentowicz was late in the challenge on NYRB's Sean Davis, he made contact with the inside of the right foot rather than the studs, and there was no excessive force or brutality in the challenge. The referee correctly reversed his original red card decision and changed it to yellow.
How is the VAR decided for each game?
Video Assistant Referees (VARs) are assigned 30 days in advance of a game by PRO, and VARs are assigned based on level of experience and quality of performance.
