VAR Explains Decision to Deny Hapoel Be'er Sheva Penalty
A controversial handball incident in the 18th minute of the match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Be'er Sheva at Turner Stadium led to a penalty appeal for Hapoel Be'er Sheva. The ball appeared to strike the hand of Maccabi's Issouf Sissoko inside the penalty area, prompting calls for a penalty kick from the visiting team.
However, the referee, utilizing the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, ultimately decided against awarding a penalty. Niv Steif, the chief VAR official, explained that the decision was based on the assessment that Sissoko had no viable way to avoid the handball. According to the VAR's interpretation, the handball was not deemed intentional or preventable under the specific circumstances, thus no penalty was given.
The decision has sparked debate among fans and observers regarding the interpretation of handball rules in football.
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