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Soton - Leicester

Tealeaf

Lighting the darkest hour
Staff member
More up in arm pundits this time over the Vestergaard red for DOGSO. No video yet, but the usual “He played the ball so it can’t be a foul” “Why didn’t he go to the monitor” etc etc.

Poor touch in the D sees the ball get away from him so a desperation challenge for the ball to get it away from Vardy. He does get a touch in the ball on the ball, granted, but it’s slight. Follow through trips Vardy.

Issue is that McCarthy in the Southampton goal isn’t going to get the ball before Vardy does if he’s still on his feet.

No issues with the Soton penalty on the hour mark. Nailed on, but lucky to score as it wasn’t struck well.
 
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Tbh I thought it was for serious foul play, though I watched without sound so no clue what the 'experts' said!
 
Tbh I thought it was for serious foul play, though I watched without sound so no clue what the 'experts' said!
At half time they admitted the same but it was confirmed as DOGSO later on. Either way it wasn’t a clever challenge; for all the VAR talk though I don’t think there’s enough to call a review. It’s a subjective call
 
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Foul could have gone either way! Correct call if you think it’s a foul, harsh if it’s just an accidental follow through.
Goalkeeper “thought he was getting there first” in the interview (wry smile and quick look away from camera gave him away...)

But agree, if going foul it has to be red.
 
As a Leicester fan, it looked red initially. But I think Vestergard’s touch on the ball puts it out of Vardy’s control so it shouldn’t have been DOGSO as it doesn’t fulfil all the necessary requirements. If Vardy made that touch as I assume Jones suspected, it would be DOGSO imo. Definitely a reckless foul/SPA at least, the usual nonsense about winning the ball stopping it from being a foul. Possibility of SFP for the studs on the ankle but probably not enough in my eyes. Still fairly subjective though so a non-intervention from VAR probably the right call. No issues with the penalty, clearly above the shoulder and unnatural.
 
But I think Vestergard’s touch on the ball puts it out of Vardy’s control so it shouldn’t have been DOGSO as it doesn’t fulfil all the necessary requirements.
"likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball"

Without the foul my money would've been on Vardy to get to the ball first, and the other points are all fulfilled, so it's DOGSO for me.
 
"likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball"

Without the foul my money would've been on Vardy to get to the ball first, and the other points are all fulfilled, so it's DOGSO for me.
Even with that wording, I still think McCarthy’s getting there well ahead of Vardy. I’d have no problem with SFP in that situation but I just don’t (personally) see it as DOGSO.
 
Its a clear red card, potentially for two reasons. Yes, Vestergaard plays the ball but then immediately wipes Vardy out, this being on the edge of the area with no defender in sight. My immediate reaction was red for DOGSO, and I wasn't at all surprised when Rob Jones got the red out. Then watching the replay, it was a straight legged challenge that hits Vardy way above the ankle and there is a very strong argument to say that was SFP.

Either way, he was going. The pundits reacted with outrage, but yet again failed to recognise it was shockingly bad defending that caused the situation.

I do feel for Rob Jones, who has been consistently the best referee in the Championship for some time now. He gets promoted but spends most weeks on board duties, and for all I think he got both big decisions spot on tonight he doesn't look a patch of the referee he looked in the Championship. The big part of his game was just how confident he appeared, but I just don't see that now and I think his confidence is probably shot to pieces because of how he has been handled since his promotion..
 
If the referee sent him off for DOGSO would a review get triggered if the VAR thought the DOGSO decision was a clear & obvious error but the red was correct for SFP?
 
Good question. This does not have an impact on the game but on the admin work after the game. Lotg or guidelines don't specify what to do here. I don't think the referee needs to communicate to VAR what it was sent off for. VAR should only intervenes if there was no reason to send off at All. The rest can be sorted out after the game. VAR interrupts the game too often and too long as it it.
 
If the referee sent him off for DOGSO would a review get triggered if the VAR thought the DOGSO decision was a clear & obvious error but the red was correct for SFP?
Probably not. That would be pointless. Minimum interference and all that.
 
Imagine the process. Ref shows the red card, does OFR, comes back and rescinds the red card and shows another red card. Confusion Al around. Takes more time to explain this to players but spectators would still be scratching their heads.

Similar to disallowing a goal for a foul just prior. VAR sees no foul but sees a handball. No need to interfere. The outcome for the game is the same.
 
This challenge got me thinking. If Vestergard's involvement had been two separate actions, the first a fair challenge on the ball and the second to lift his leg on the follow through to trip Vardy, then, assuming the first touch sent the ball clearly out of Vardy's control and into the GKs, DOGSO would be off the table right?
 
This challenge got me thinking. If Vestergard's involvement had been two separate actions, the first a fair challenge on the ball and the second to lift his leg on the follow through to trip Vardy, then, assuming the first touch sent the ball clearly out of Vardy's control and into the GKs, DOGSO would be off the table right?
I'd say yes. Based on your assumption and emphasis on the word clearly.
 
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