According to former FIFA Referee and VAR instructor Jerome Damon, there are specific reasons why Pyramids' goals against Orlando Pirates were not allowed.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) played a significant role in the match, twice denying Pyramids FC.
On the stroke of halftime, Pyramids thought they had taken the lead through Fiston Mayele's superb volley, but a VAR review ruled the goal out for offside.
Then, in the 88th minute, Pyramids found the back of the net again with a deflected effort from Sodiq Ougola, only for VAR to intervene once more, disallowing the goal for a handball, much to the frustration of the visiting bench.
FORMER FIFA REFEREE ON WHY VAR INTERVENTION
“Just before half-time the referee was called for an on-field review, to review a possible offside decision,” he said on social media when discussing the goal by Mayele.
“From review VAR saw that the player was in an offside decision, the [Pyramids] attacker who scored the goal [Mayele]…
“There was an action by the Orlando Pirates defender [Mbokazi] in the process leading up to the goal which needed to be checked, that’s why there was an onside review by the VAR officials, to interpret whether the Orlando Pirates player was in control of his body action…
“The referee then deemed the Orlando Pirates player was not in control of his body reaction, therefor it was then deemed a deflection and because it was a deflection which went to a player in an offside decision, the referee correctly ruled offside gaining an advantage.
“It was a very good decision, very good intervention by VAR and very good implementation of the laws of the game.”
“Another goal check and like we know with VAR, every goal needs to be checked to see if there was no offence in the lead-up to the goal.
“The VAR checked everything and they saw that the ball had come of the attackers arm before the ball had gone directly into goal.
“Therefore, correctly in terms of law, a handball offence had been committed and the refereeing team had correctly ruled that that was unfortunately a no-goal situation.
“Again, good application of law by the refereeing team, and good application of VAR by the CAF VAR.”
