The officials at the centre of what’s been dubbed the ‘worst VAR decision ever’ have been suspended. Pawel Malec and Daniel Stefanski have been removed from their posts and indefinitely banned from officiating in matches under the auspices of the Polish Football Association.
The two were acting as Video Assistant Referee and Assistant Video Referee, respectively, when they controversially disallowed an Alexander Isak goal for offside during Sweden’s Nations League clash with Azerbaijan. In the incident, a goal was initially confirmed, but upon Malec’s review, lines drawn across the pitch suggested Isak was marginally offside.
However, Newcastle United striker Isak was shown to be clearly onside when he received the ball from Viktor Gyokeres on the left-wing, before he slotted home what seemed to be the team’s fourth goal. The match referee, Paweł Raczkowski, trusting the VAR’s judgement, chalked off the goal.
In response, the PZPN Referees’ Board decided to withdraw Malec and Stefanski’s authority to preside over premier level matches in Poland, either as referees or video assistant referees. Nevertheless, relegating the referees to the first league was deemed excessive.
Although the duration of their penalty wasn’t specified, further repercussions might ensue from UEFA, which admitted: “The offside decision was a mistake by the VAR referee”, reports the Mirror.
Despite Sweden cruising to a 6-0 victory, Isak was left stunned by the decision. The Newcastle frontman was seething after his goal was disallowed, calling it perhaps the worst decision in VAR history.
“How is that possible? ,” Isak questioned post-match. “Seriously. It’s almost the worst I’ve seen. I’m happy, of course, that we win, but when I score a goal that should be allowed, then it’s clear that you get annoyed.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything like this at this level when I’ve been involved. You’ve seen a lot of mistakes, but this one was pretty rough. The VAR referees stood in the player tunnel at halftime. We argued with them, but they stuck to their decision that they had made the right call.”
Swedish head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson also expressed his frustration: “I was furious, the whole team was furious. I don’t understand it. For me, it was a goal, but we can’t change it.”
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/officials-responsible-worst-var-decision-30431406
