A&H

Man City v BVB

Technically, is it a careless challenge? He's charging in fast, studs down in the end but well over knee height during the tackle.
No. It had potential to be playing in a dangerous manner, but the GK was clearly not hesitant in any way to attempt to play that ball due to the proximity of the player.
 
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Mane also lucky not to get sent off for kicking out/knee high attack on RM player when the ball was already gone. Although he did get a yellow for mouthing out for ages.

I don't get why in the goal situation why VAR can't step in and award it when we think logically. Yes the whistle has gone, but there was no additional play other than the ball crossing the line. A rule such as a 3 second rule after the whistle has blown to rule out trigger happy ref mistakes?
I think that would be moving into dangerous territory personally - the whistle was blown whilst Bellingham was around 10 yards out and, as we've seen on many occasions, there is no guarantee that he'd have scored from that position. VAR cannot start giving goals that haven't actually been scored, no matter how likely it is that the attacker is going to put the ball in. Just delay the whistle and let VAR check it.
 
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I think that would be moving into dangerous territory personally - the whistle was blown whilst Bellingham was around 10 yards out and, as we've seen on many occasions, there is no guarantee that he'd have scored from that position. VAR cannot start giving goals that haven't actually been scored, no matter how likely it is that the attacker is going to put the ball in. Just delay the whistle and let VAR check it.
The problem is, that referee will have spent his entire career up until that point knowing that selling a disallowed goal comes easier if the whistle goes before the ball actually goes in. In 99% of football matches, the quicker you can whistle the less contentious it will feel - that's a difficult instinct to un-train, especially given how rarely it happens
 
Mane also lucky not to get sent off for kicking out/knee high attack on RM player when the ball was already gone. Although he did get a yellow for mouthing out for ages.

I don't get why in the goal situation why VAR can't step in and award it when we think logically. Yes the whistle has gone, but there was no additional play other than the ball crossing the line. A rule such as a 3 second rule after the whistle has blown to rule out trigger happy ref mistakes?
Agreed, Mane should have had at least a yellow, possibly red. That "challenge" possibly had a lot to do with Felix's attitude towards Sadio for the rest of the game. Obvs worth mentioning Vinicus and the possibility of VAR USB for feigning facial injury too, Sorry, back to City!
 
Agreed, Mane should have had at least a yellow, possibly red. That "challenge" possibly had a lot to do with Felix's attitude towards Sadio for the rest of the game. Obvs worth mentioning Vinicus and the possibility of VAR USB for feigning facial injury too, Sorry, back to City!

Surely a referee should not be fully influenced like that, that would be worrying if that was the case. Felix Brych is an experienced official and one that does tend to let the game flow so maybe he thought Mane was nudged off the ball too easily although in fairness to Mane, it did look a free kick too me and it would of been a red for DOGSO also.

Back to the city game, the official was Romanian so do they use VAR in the league he referees in? If not, maybe he whistled quickly because its a habit. Either way, shocking decision.
 
The Mane thing was definitely a foul
Would I have given the foul?
Probably not
That's not of my making. Referees are guilty of self-preservation, because 'that's the game' and the downside of giving it, probably outweighs the upside of getting it right. Maybe it would take a better Referee that me (or Felix) to put his/her neck on the block. If the foul (and DOGSO) had been given, it would've been outstanding Refereeing and we don't have any/many of R's of that calibre around
 
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The thing I would add here is there is a much, much lower tolerance in Europe for a raised boot with studs showing than there is in the UK. I've seen raised feet much lower than this penalised in UCL games. Even if he doesn't blow there is still a chance VAR would say it was a foul.

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In terms of the assistant and Haaland, that is incredibly unprofessional. Not asking for his signature in its own right, but rather doing it in an open space immediately after a game, especially a game where there were controversial decisions. Even more so, this was an assistant that was involved in the PSG vs Istanbul game in February and received a reprimand for his involvement in the incident with the 4th official and Pierre Webo. You would have thought he, of all people, would be looking to keep a very low profile for the next few games.
 
If there was no camera there's no story. We all know it goes on. Just so happens that this time it was caught.

I can see why people are saying it shows favouritism or bias if you but in my eyes there's no story here and people are just using it to bash officials.
I’m not sure. These are paid professionals and in the eyes of everyone need to remain impartial. I’m not suggesting they aren’t, but don’t give people ammunition. Be a fan in your own time, not when you’re being paid to do a job
 
Apparently it was for charity. Allegedly he has done it lots of times before to donate and raise funds.
Or possibly for a sick kid in hospital or for his kid's birthday present... The point don't judge until knowing the full story. In either case, I have no issue even if it was for himself.
 
I’m not sure. These are paid professionals and in the eyes of everyone need to remain impartial. I’m not suggesting they aren’t, but don’t give people ammunition. Be a fan in your own time, not when you’re being paid to do a job
It wasn't as if he did it on the pitch. It was only picked up because of a camera in the tunnel. I doubt he would go in but even the changing rooms have cameras in.
 
I think it was done after the game also which makes it more acceptable but still open a can of worms that is not needed though.
 
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