Referees' Union Backs VAR Decisions After Maccabi Haifa Complaint

Israel's Football Association Referees' Committee has publicly backed the VAR officials' decisions in Maccabi Haifa's recent 3-2 victory over Ironi Tiberias, following a formal complaint from Maccabi Haifa. The club had requested clarification on several calls made during the match.

The committee specifically addressed the penalty awarded to Maccabi Haifa, stating it was a "justified intervention" by the VAR, as a defender's arm was in an unnatural position, increasing his body's volume. This decision was not the primary point of contention for Maccabi Haifa.

The club's main grievance concerned the non-disallowance of Ironi Tiberias's first goal, which they believed involved a handball in the build-up. However, the Referees' Committee also supported the VAR's decision in this instance. They released audio of the discussion between the on-field referee and VAR officials, explaining that while the ball did touch an attacking player's hand, it did not constitute a handball offense under current rules. The committee clarified that a goal should only be disallowed for a handball if the ball goes directly in off the hand or if the player who handled the ball scores immediately afterward, neither of which applied here.

Maccabi Haifa acknowledged the committee's professional response despite disagreeing with some decisions. They stated their intention in lodging the complaint was to ensure consistent and fair officiating for all teams, which they see as a shared interest. The club had previously expressed dissatisfaction with VAR official Shlomi Ben Avraham's decisions.