Controversial VAR Decision: Red Card and Penalty Awarded in Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. SV Darmstadt 98 Match

Following a handball in the penalty area, referee Timo Gerach not only awarded a penalty for Borussia Mönchengladbach after VAR intervention, he also showed Darmstadt defender Matej Maglica a red card. A DFB rule was crucial.

Tricky decision: Timo Gerach watched the controversial scene. IMAGO/Student

After a one-sided first half and a comfortable 3-0 lead, SV Darmstadt 98 still had to share the points with Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday evening – the score was 3-3 in the end. The crux of this game was a scene shortly after the restart, which resulted in SVD defender Matej Maglica being shown the red card after VAR intervention and the Gladbach team being awarded a penalty.

“I had no awareness on the field,” said referee Timo Gerach after the game on DAZN, explaining the scene surrounding the scene in which the ball jumped to the SVD defender’s hand in the penalty area during a running duel with Fohlen striker Tomas Cvancara. “The video assistant contacted me and confirmed – the pictures in Cologne clearly show this – that the Darmstadt defender has his hand on the ball. So it’s a clear handball, a swiping movement. Which is certainly debatable in interpretation is: whether Gladbacher now has control of the ball or whether he will only gain it in the next few seconds.”

DFB rule 12 provides information

Because in this case the question arises about the punishment: yellow or red? That depends on the assessment of the duel situation. The DFB regulations define in rule 12 that thwarting an obvious scoring opportunity is punished with a penalty and a yellow card “if the offense was committed while attempting to play the ball or in a duel for the ball.” The so-called double punishment – red and penalty – has been abolished in these cases.

But this aspect does not apply to hand games. “If a player thwarts a goal or an obvious scoring opportunity for the opponent through a handball violation, he will be sent off the field regardless of the location of the offense,” writes the DFB.

Gerlach is responsible for interpreting the rules

The question is: was it an “obvious scoring opportunity”? This is defined in such a way that the player must have control of the ball or this is imminent. Gerach answered this question with yes and issued the intended expulsion. If the referee had assessed that Cvancara had not yet gained control of the ball, by definition it would not have been an obvious goal opportunity and the yellow card would have been logical.

The point of ball control is debatable, arguments can be found for both decisions. The red card is therefore a tough decision, but it is still within the discretion of the referee, who gave insight into his decision-making process.

Referee understands the anger

“Eleven or twelve meters from the goal in the box, the ball comes down to his foot. For me it’s a clear chance to score and that’s why I decided on the red card on the field,” Gerach explained his decision. But he also showed understanding that the expulsion was harsh in external perception. “I can understand that, yes,” said Gerach. “For me as a referee, it’s about making decisions. And sometimes those are unpopular and hard decisions – that was certainly one of those, yes.”

Maglica himself had a hard time accepting the punishment, as he confirmed to DAZN: “At that moment I really didn’t feel that I was playing the ball with my hand. You can’t see that the ball is moving any differently. I don’t play the ball with my hand. I can’t confirm that. I didn’t feel it at the moment.”

Lilien coach Torsten Lieberknecht also had problems accepting the red card, especially since the game “took a completely different course with the double punishment.” However, he also made it clear that they should have closed the bag beforehand: “We had the opportunity to increase the score to 4-0 or 5-0 in the first half. We weren’t able to do that due to a bit of bad luck at the end.” So the Lilies are still waiting for their first win after their return to the Bundesliga.

2023-09-17 19:46:31
#Penalty #red #Darmstadt #punished