Referees Association Explains Derby Decisions on Disallowed Goal, Missed Penalty

The Israeli Referees Association has released its decisions regarding controversial calls made during the Tel Aviv derby, where Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv 4-1. The association addressed two key incidents: the disallowed goal by Maccabi's Ester Soklar and the decision not to award a penalty for an incident involving Hapoel's Fede Vico and Maccabi's Dor Peretz.

Regarding Soklar's disallowed goal in the 44th minute, the association explained that while it involved a player stepping on an opponent, the foul was deemed significant because it directly impacted a defensive player involved in the play. The stepping prevented the defender from participating in the defensive action, allowing an adjacent attacker, whom the defender was marking, to score. Therefore, the disallowed goal was justified due to its direct influence on the outcome.

In contrast, the association clarified the incident in first-half stoppage time involving Vico's step on Peretz. They stated that Peretz, an attacking player, was not involved in the play, could not have reached the ball, and had no chance to influence the game. The contact was deemed incidental and not sufficient to warrant a foul or a penalty kick. The association highlighted that although both incidents involved stepping on an opponent, the context and impact on the game differed significantly, leading to the contrasting decisions.