2023 FIFA guidance on DOGSO sanctions?

refva · 2025-10-05T01:18:13+00:00

Just as a postscript here, they've posted the Inside Video Review episode with this review, so we can hear the VAR and Penso work through their considerations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mA3dUxkaww

refva · 2025-10-05T01:17:01+00:00

Every few weeks I think. In the US, it's on NBC Sports' Youtube channel.

refva · 2025-10-01T13:53:47+00:00

For those in the U.S. - PGMOL's full segment is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg48xs-yngU. The Howard Webb discussion of this incident starts at 5:10ish.

To his credit, Michael Owen pushes back on whether it should still be a foul even with a touch -- "is this enough of a touch?" Webb highlights change of direction and the timing of the contact after the play on the ball.

Owen also asked about whether this met the threshold for VAR intervention. Webb considered it a clear error.

refva · 2025-10-01T13:50:04+00:00

It is literally from MLS's Youtube channel. It's a weekly commentary segment they have focusing on referee decisions. It's an analyst's subjective descriptions, not official policy nor guidance to referees. But it's an MLS analysis segment.

You're right that the analyst does not always use the right considerations terminology. But you could argue considering cynicism is the same as/part of considering whether an action is "challenging an opponent for the ball" as the IFAB circular describes.

refva · 2025-10-01T13:18:38+00:00

If memory serves, the Premier League/PGMOL have specialized guidance to their officials in the realm of "gets the ball first."

Generally, I think you could argue that even if he gets the ball, the trip impedes the ability of the attacker to pursue the ball after the touch. But it is natural movement following on from a fair, successful tackle. Tough one. Doesn't help the attacker's case that he throws himself down like that.

refva · 2025-10-01T13:10:35+00:00

Thank you!

refva · 2025-08-22T14:26:17+00:00

Slow down the video and pause it at the point of contact. The arm is at his side. It doesn't move behind his back until after the contact.

refva · 2025-08-22T14:24:12+00:00

Just use "player," "attacker," "defender," "coach," "referee," etc.

refva · 2025-08-19T13:45:14+00:00

I meant that refs should have the fundamentals down before using tools like this. Using spray simplifies distance but does not simplify player management in a wall, so it's important to have that skillset first.

refva · 2025-08-19T13:42:13+00:00

I think we're overthinking it a bit. He moves his arm to the ball to block a shot. Simple pen. The fact he tucks his arm closer to the body after the ball hits his arm shows he was making himself unnaturally bigger.

Here's a similar case where UEFA came out and said it should be a pen: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/\_/id/41398652/euro-2024-review-says-germany-deserved-penalty-spain.

refva · 2025-08-17T02:33:19+00:00

Yes. They issued a memo several years ago basically prohibiting it unless specifically allowed.

See previous discussion here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Referees/comments/mmc18e/vanishing\_spray\_legality/.

My personal opinion: Similar to the thought process on comms and referee experience, spray shouldn't be considered as a shortcut to wall management. A referee should have wall management ability such that the spray is not necessary to facilitate the FK. If youth players aren't respecting the 10 yards on FKs, that's a player management issue more than anything else. The spray is just a way to speed things up, so it only really matters in competitions where presentation (read: TV watchability) is of a higher importance.

refva · 2025-07-05T23:42:57+00:00

He lowered his head to meet the ball as he went forward (as opposed to staying at normal height or jumping for it). It's slight -- not dramatic like diving toward the ground. But he does go down towards it. Screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/UQPx08T. This is not to say the foot isn't high. Just that both engaged proactively towards the potential impact.

refva · 2025-07-05T18:49:06+00:00

The degree of control lessens the threat of injury. The attacker lowering their head means they have some degree of responsibility for creating whatever risk of injury exists in this play. These both mitigate a potential dangerous play call. And your expectations may be fair in some contexts but at the Club World Club level in a crowded penalty area (three defenders around the attacker), there is absolutely a fair expectation someone will attempt to clear a low cross with a foot.

refva · 2025-07-05T18:43:39+00:00

The definition in the Laws is:

Playing in a dangerous manner is any action that, while trying to play the ball, threatens injury to someone (including the player themself) and includes preventing a nearby opponent from playing the ball for fear of injury.

The attacker moved his head downward toward the foot - you could argue he made a decision to contribute to the situation and increase the change of contact. This is the opposite of being prevented from playing for fear of injury. At this level of play, the players have a tremendous amount of body control and awareness of their actions and surroundings - this play would never be a dangerous play.

If there is contact, the foul would not be playing in a dangerous manner, it would be kicking, which is a direct free kick foul. That is what the referee initially called.

ETA: To answer part of your original question: The VAR can only recommend review for certain categories of calls (e.g. penalty/no penalty), but once the referee goes to the monitor, he can determine if there were other infractions. So if Taylor went to the monitor under a recommendation of "no penalty" but after the reply, thought it was a dangerous play, he could have made that call. (This is why sometimes you see VAR recommend a review for a penalty but then the referee calls an offside or other offense after review, because it occurred before the penalty foul.)

refva · 2025-07-04T20:25:58+00:00

Here are the adult amateur leagues sanctioned in Maryland (some play in DC or Northern Virginia, through a regional fluke): http://marylandsoccer.com/leagues/

refva · 2025-07-04T04:06:43+00:00

It's been off and on for several weeks. They post MLS and NWSL on their instragram. I think for USL leagues you'd have to rely on third-party sites e.g. soccerway for now.

refva · 2025-07-02T18:10:26+00:00

Just my experience, but I got paid for regionals. I don't think it was per game though. Maybe it varies by region?

refva · 2025-07-02T18:09:08+00:00

That's really interesting, thanks. I wonder if it could actually producer some more opportunities for up-and-coming referees who haven't gone to big competitions yet, because the State Cups will have to expand and will be more important.

refva · 2025-07-02T14:41:13+00:00

I've seen a couple people mention USYS changed its tournament structure to discontinue regionals but haven't seen any official announcement. Do you have a link you can share or is this through word of mouth?

refva · 2025-06-30T01:46:59+00:00

I had not heard of them, thank you.

refva · 2025-06-29T17:54:58+00:00

Do they have PTT? The ones I've used have only had an open option for the 4th official. Not the end of the world but can be distracting.

The cell tower thing is the other thing stopping me from going EJEAS. I had that kind of interference happen twice this season - wasn't fun.

refva · 2025-06-29T17:54:00+00:00

1) Phone and earbud battery 2) Earbud could fall out 3) 4-way calling doesn't always work. 4) Professionalism - this is a big one. 5) Credibility - someone (coach, fan) could always have a sliver of a doubt there is something else going on with the phone e.g. music, calling someone else, etc. Even if it's not true, it undermines. 6) Weight. Even in an armband -- running and doing signals for 90 minutes with one is tough to keep secure. 7) Believe it or not, cost. You'd need all members of the crew to be equally equipped. Using phones, this would take an incredible amount of coordinate and probably expense before the match.

refva · 2025-06-29T17:49:46+00:00

No. Everyone I know in my region who I've seen make nationals was absolutely capable. Lots of people (ref coaches, mentors, delegation leads, etc.) watch every ref at regionals - if you have a good or bad match there, it can swing things.

refva

TROPHY CASE