Referees Union Rules Red Card Should Have Been Issued to Maccabi Haifa's Lonwijk

The Israeli Referees Association has ruled that a red card should have been issued to Nigel Lonwijk of Maccabi Haifa during their recent 2-1 victory over Hapoel Petah Tikva. The incident in question occurred in the 60th minute when Lonwijk committed a serious foul, characterized by a high leg and endangering the opponent, against Hapoel Petah Tikva's Frank Riboullier. Riboullier suffered a torn ACL as a result of the play. The VAR (Video Assistant Referee) did not intervene, with the association stating that the VAR official followed protocol as there was no clear proof of contact point.

The Referees Association also addressed a controversial handball incident in the 85th minute, which led to Maccabi Haifa's winning goal. They determined that the referee's decision to allow the goal was correct. Although the ball touched the hand of Maccabi Haifa player Iyad Hallaili at the start of the attacking move, it was deemed not to be a handball offense because the hand was close to the body and in a natural position relative to the player's action. The association clarified that a goal should be disallowed even for accidental handball if the player who touched the ball with their hand immediately scores.

Frank Riboullier, the injured Hapoel Petah Tikva striker, expressed his frustration on Instagram, questioning the lack of a red card, the absence of VAR, and sarcastically stating, "Yes, obviously I can do it myself."