The Committee of Referees of the Ukrainian Football Association and UAF chief arbitration expert Nicola Rizzoli explained the interpretation of the game episodes of the matchday 9 of the Ukrainian championship Shakhtar vs Vorskla (1:2).
Decisions on the pitch: a penalty without a card.
Correct decision: penalty without a card.
Explanation/reasoning: the referee correctly awarded a penalty for the actions of FC Shakhtar's defender No. 19 against the opposing striker. In fact, the FC Shakhtar player is being outpaced by the opponent playing the ball, while the defender is clearly kicking him in the foot. Awarding a penalty without disciplinary sanction is the correct decision.
VAR: VAR is correctly limited to checking events. If the referee had not awarded a penalty, then VAR should have intervened by offering the referee an on-field review (PUP) to review the video and award a penalty.
