Jarell Quansah’s late equaliser against Toulouse in the Europa League was wrongfully disallowed, thus depriving him of his maiden senior goal.
The game of football is highly subjective. Therefore, in order to referee the competition, officials follow the rules and guidelines created by the tournament’s organiser.
The rules set forth by UEFA are quite obvious in this instance, as Quansah’s goal shouldn’t have been disallowed due to a handball by Alexis Mac Allister.
The Board advises that UEFA make it clear that a player will not be called for a handball if the ball is deflected from his own body, especially if it does not go towards the goal, as stated by UEFA in April.
As the ball ricocheted off Mac Allister’s chest, this would apply to him. Dale Johnson, an ESPN editor and VAR “expert,” stated that there were further mitigating elements, such as the arm being retracted and being close to the torso, that explained why this ruling was incorrect.
The fact that the handball was allegedly committed so long ago before the goal was scored is possibly even more annoying.
Going back thus far in UEFA competition isn’t illegal, but it seems strange that Toulouse can win the ball back and then lose it again between the offence and the goal.
It isn’t like that in the Premier League. “The VAR will only check the attacking possession phase that led to the penalty or goal,” the league’s website states.
“Only the current phase will serve as the starting point. The attacking team’s possession may not be restored by the VAR.
“The attack’s momentum and the opposition defense’s capacity to reset will be taken into account by the VAR.”
Therefore, it wasn’t really necessary to inspect it regardless of whether Mac Allister actually committed a handball infraction.
Dragomir Draganov, the lead VAR, and referee Georgi Kabakov were among the officials on duty.