Referees Committee Rules Hapoel Be'er Sheva Was Wronged in Match vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv

The Israeli Referees Committee has concluded that Hapoel Be'er Sheva was unfairly treated during their recent match against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the third round of the Israeli Premier League. The committee determined that in the 19th minute, a penalty should have been awarded to Hapoel Be'er Sheva for a handball offense in the box, and the VAR official erred by not intervening.

According to the committee's findings, a Maccabi Tel Aviv defender's arm was extended, increasing his body's size, when he jumped for a header. The central referee did not call a foul, and the VAR official should have prompted a review. The committee's decision adds to the ongoing criticism regarding the quality of refereeing and VAR usage early in the season.

Conversely, the committee also addressed a controversial incident in the 33rd minute where a legitimate goal for Maccabi Tel Aviv was disallowed. The referees' body stated that the referee should have allowed the play to continue under the advantage rule and validated the goal. The VAR official's decision to instead award a penalty was reportedly due to uncertainty about contact between the goalkeeper's foot and the attacker, as seen from the available camera angles, which prevented intervention according to protocol in cases of doubt.

These rulings come after a heated match that also saw Hapoel Be'er Sheva midfielder Lucas Ventura suffer an early injury. The controversy surrounding the officiating is fueling debate about the standard of refereeing in the league.