A-League video referee controversy amplifies with MRP input

THE controversy over the use of video referees in the A-League has taken another turn, with A-League bosses forced to clarify how it will affect the ability of the match review panel to sanction players.

After a weekend of huge debate over the VAR’s involvement in a clutch of red cards, questions were being asked over how it affects the post-game review of incidents by the MRP, which has the power to ban players retrospectively.

The MRP can only act where an incident has escaped the referee’s attention, but some club officials have argued that where with the VAR theoretically reviewing all incidents, the MRP would in effect be re-refereeing the game if it was to then cite a player if he wasn’t punished during a game.

PLEDGE: A-League boss says they will ‘get VAR right’

TALKING POINT: VAR overshadows Gombau’s win

FUMING: Okan rages as Mariners get offside with VAR


Sydney FC star Bobo was at the centre of VAR controversy against Melbourne City
On Monday the head of the A-League, Greg O’Rourke, clarified that where the video referee doesn’t mention an incident to the match referee, even if he sees it, the MRP can take action afterwards.

But where the VAR mentions an incident to the match referee during the game, it will be deemed to have been dealt with on the pitch – meaning the MRP cannot act.

Sydney FC striker Bobo was at the centre of controversy on Friday night, when his kick at Melbourne City defender Manny Muscat was reviewed by VAR Strebre Delovski, who told match referee Shaun Evans that it was arguable whether it was worthy of a red card, a point of view Evans was happy to accept.

That means Bobo cannot be cited by the MRP, and is free to play in Sydney’s trip to wellington on Saturday.


Luke Brattan’s goal also brought VAR into question
But the need to create such a careful distinction is likely to fuel more criticism of the VAR system, from players, coaches and fans over the time taken to review decisions, and also a series of contentious calls.

Ironically Evans was the VAR on Saturday night for the Wanderers’ win at the Mariners, with two Central Coast players sent off after he suggested match referee Alex King review his decision to give both a yellow card.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/a-league/aleague-video-referee-controversy-amplifies-with-mrp-input/news-story/b5c172b67ac69ed92601a01c22d0fdfd

...................

...................

Oh well, at least Muscat will miss a few games.

I am not sure whether to laugh, cry, or put my head through a brick wall. 
What a total fucking piece of shit and surprise, surprise Sydney is favoured.

@eldar

If you look at it from a league prospective



5.2

Strebe said it was either red or yellow, therefor grey. So Bobo didn't get any card. He should at the minimum receive a yellow in retrospect as accumulated yellows during the season cause a suspension. Strebe has admitted it was a card offense so the player shouldn't get away with it.

Well, this is how I look at it.......Muscat walked up to Bobo off play and started niggling, getting in his ear, knicking at his Achilles and Bobo gave him a pretty harmless "backoff". Muscat took a dive, trying to get something out of it. Then he gets sent off for intentionally closed fist elbowing someone in the face.....its called karma.

Yes, to be politically correct we should also punish Bobo for reacting to Muscat being a dick.....but fuck it, karma is fine by me.

I guess City fans could argue Muscat was irate that Bobo wasn't sent off after being trampled and lashed out. He may not of gotten sent off.

Many ways to look at things. Most look bad for VAR.

Well, I think that both should have been dealt with by the MRP, and Muscat's should be dealt with as the far more serious incident it was......blows to the head can do serious damage.

Circus

Enough blows to the head and your eligible for a job at FFA.

This is hilarious.

Something farcical every single week.

So we have effectively replaced the MRP process with a 5 minute rush job on a football pitch while fans are booing and players are yelling at a bloke standing in front of a 5inch TV to get the f on with it.

One of those FFA innovations we get told about all the time

Unbeleivable. Never seen anything like it. This league is an absolute farce.

Has anyone asked which offence that is punishable by a yellow card Bobo's action could have broken?
It is quite clear that if it is a red card offence then it is for violent conduct, but I am not sure which yellow card offence he could have committed.

Karma would imply that Bobo got hit by a truck. Not Muscat coping a ban.

As far as I can tell an action is either violent conduct and a red card or not violent conduct and no action needs to happen. Unlike with tackles there is no clear graduation of penalties from foul to yellow card to red card based on the severity of the offence. The only possible yellow card offence Bobo might have been able to be given a yellow card under is "shows a lack of respect for the game" but I am not sure what it is meant to cover.

It seems to me the grey area between yellow and red was pulled out of Strebre's arse without any support from the Laws of the Game and its use to get Bobo off of any punishment is very suspicious. 

The grey area lies between between sky blue and city blue.

So if the ref has missed it, how does he get notified?...

If that's the case, how does the VAR not notify the ref?...

Fucking lol, talk about Sydney protectionism hahahahah.

VAR spoke to the ref and it's all G.

-PB

And nothing on the incident of Zullo into the back of Muscat to cause his reaction in the first place! He also went down like a sack of potatoes. I'd be interested in seeing him take a decent hit.

So a player has used violent physical action to strike a player off the ball, everyone is aware of it, yet Bobo gets off? Never seen anything like it before. Go back through history of the league and you'll see players punished for this. For example I remember when Novillo kicked out at an Adelaide player, hitting nothing but air mind you, in a scuffle which ended in him missing a game or two. I do take the piss out of the whole Sydney bias thing but this incident has really raised questions about favouritism of Sydney.

I don't think you can blame Zullo for that incident, Muscat had a big handfull of Zullo's shirt in his left hand for a while before he swung the right elbow back into Zullo. I don't think Zullo can be blamed for going down after what Muscat did to him. 

There's no doubt Muscat was a red card regardless of Zullo grabbing his shirt. Deserves to be on the pine permanently.

@Footballking55

When you see anything in slow motion it looks worse. You add the home crowd watching VAR and its blown out of proportion.

He was pulling on his shirt yes. He did go down easy.

I'm skeptical if it was a red. He hardly connected.

Show me a photo of Zullos eye. Is it even black? Even swollen? He didn't even need treatment.

Strebres gonna Streb.

No, Muscat was grabbing Zullo's shirt with one hand and elbowing him with the other elbow at the same time.

I don't care how much contact was made, I don't even care if he missed, it is a red card.

Hey look there are football rules and A-League rules.

If they can only act if the referee hasn't acted then how did O'Donovan get eight weeks after getting a yellow?