Referees Committee Admits Crucial Errors in Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. Hapoel Be'er Sheva Match

The Israeli Referees Committee has published its findings on key incidents during the recent 4-1 victory of Maccabi Tel Aviv over Hapoel Be'er Sheva, acknowledging two critical errors that significantly impacted the game. The committee unequivocally stated that Hapoel Be'er Sheva was wronged when a penalty was not awarded in the 19th minute. The VAR team was criticized for failing to intervene when a handball offense occurred in the box, noting that the defender's outstretched hand increased his body's surface area.

Regarding a controversial decision involving Maccabi Tel Aviv, the committee reviewed a disallowed goal by Dor Peretz. Although the referee, Yigal Frid, should have allowed play to continue for an advantage after a foul on Ester Sukler, leading to a penalty, the committee explained the VAR's decision to revert to the penalty. The VAR supported the penalty call due to a perceived, though slight, contact between the goalkeeper's foot and the attacking player's foot, adhering to the protocol of not intervening unless there is a clear error.