The Referees Committee of the Ukrainian Football Association, together with Match Official Consultant Nicola Rizzoli, explained the interpretation of specific game episodes from postponed matches in the 15th and 16th rounds of the Vbet League-2023/2024.

Round 15

"Oleksandria" — "Obolon". Referee — Yaroslav Kozik. VAR — Dmytro Kubryak.

40 min.

Player No. 26 ("Oleksandria") competes with Player No. 25 ("Obolon") for the ball, moving towards its trajectory at high speed while his opponent is rising to head it.

Considering the high speed and the position of Player No. 26's knee that leads to a face contact during the challenge for the ball, this is deemed as an action endangering the health of the opponent; it constitutes a dangerous play (unfair use of hands), warranting a yellow card.

Since such dynamic actions are punishable with a yellow card, VAR correctly does not intervene because this type of infringement is not grounds for VAR intervention.

42 min.

Player No. 30 ("Oleksandria") starts to fall at the moment of ball contact (right foot immediately follows up after this), attempting a "soft" penalty kick. Such types of contacts during one-on-one situations are part of football and are not considered fouls. Therefore, continuing play was the correct decision.

Although this cannot be deemed as a penalty, in VAR's video footage there is a clear contact between the defender's right hand and the attacker's body. With such types of contacts, for VAR systems (and replays) it is difficult to assess the force of the push (or hold), so correctly no intervention should take place in this episode (regardless of whether the referee awards a penalty or not).

75 min.

Player No. 8 ("Obolon"), attempting to round the goalkeeper, extends his right leg to play the ball. The goalkeeper coming out of the goal attempts to block it with his right foot as well; both players are playing the ball correctly within normal game actions. In this case, neither player is in violation.

In this situation, VAR makes an error by focusing (incorrectly) only on the contact between the goalkeeper and attacker and assessing it as dangerous play. This dynamic of the game episode at normal speed, not in slow motion, clearly shows that this is not a situation for intervention to award a penalty. Considering all circumstances, after reviewing video, the referee should have restarted play with a corner kick.

90 min.

Player No. 14 ("Obolon"), attempting to take the ball from Player No. 22 ("Oleksandria") who was controlling it, kicked him with his right foot on the left knee. Considering these circumstances, Player No. 14's actions constitute a foul and should have been penalized.

Given the aforementioned reasons and clear video footage available to VAR, a pitch-side review (PVR) should have been recommended.

90+1 min.

Player No. 34 ("Obolon"), executing a header, pushed an opponent who was in position to control the ball and hit him with his left hand on the forehead before he could head it. The correct decision regarding awarding a penalty kick and yellow card for Player No. 34 (situation very similar to what happened at the 40th minute of this match).

VAR reviewed and confirmed the correctness of the penalty award, having the opportunity to confirm that contact between the defender's hand and attacker's head occurred before the defender could play the ball.

Round 16

"Mynai" — "Dynamo". Referee — Oleksandr Shandor. VAR — Denis Shurman.

64 min.

Player No. 99 ("Mynai") intercepts an opponent, Player No. 9 ("Dynamo"), who is attempting to shoot with his right foot. Player No. 99 clearly plays the ball with his leg and does not make contact with the opponent (thus, it is not a foul). The attacker, executing his usual/natural action in trying to kick, hits the opponent's body with his leg; this is merely an ordinary playing foul (accidental) without any additional sanctions.

This is exactly why VAR limited itself to conducting a silent review.