Expert referee analyzes the controversial moments in the Beijing-Shandong match: VAR can only intervene when the main referee fails to call out obvious fouls

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Veteran international referee Wang Xuezhi provided his comments on some controversial calls in the second leg of the Beijing vs. Shandong match. The entire process of Shandong Luneng’s attack was clear and smooth. With neither the players nor the coaches from either side making any comments, the referee and assistant referees, who were close to the ball, believed that no foul by the attacking team had been committed before the goal was scored. In this calm atmosphere, the video assistant referee stepped in to draw attention to himself; thanks to his suggestion, the referee changed his initial decision. The rules state that the video assistant referee may intervene only if the referee failed to detect an obvious and clear foul by a player from the attacking team before a goal is scored. At this point, the referee is in a reasonable position and at a proper angle to observe the situation; they should stick to their decision, as only their judgment on the field is the final one. A famous German referee once said, \"The worst thing on a football field is when there is an obvious foul that everyone can see, but the referee turns a blind eye; and when everyone thinks nothing wrong has happened, the referee blows his whistle.\" ” This match example was once again innovative, with the video assistant referee being the only member of the refereeing team to consider that goal to be a foul. Our requirement that players respect and support the referees’ decisions unconditionally is based on the fact that referees must adhere to principles of fairness and accuracy, and must possess the necessary skills, professional competence, and ethical standards; only in this way can they gain public trust.