Referee Errs in Awarding Penalty to Maccabi Haifa Despite VAR Advice

The refereeing committee has ruled that referee Omer Biran made a mistake by awarding a penalty to Maccabi Haifa in their 2-1 victory over Hapoel Ramat Gan during the first round of the Israeli Premier League. The penalty was given in the 84th minute after a perceived foul by Andrea Novakovich, but the committee's review found no foul had occurred in the penalty area, making the penalty call incorrect.

Despite the VAR official recommending that Biran overturn his decision after reviewing the footage, the referee chose to maintain the penalty call. The penalty was later missed by Eitan Azoulay against goalkeeper Amit Reif. The committee sharply criticized Biran for ignoring the VAR advice and emphasized that he should have changed his decision accordingly.

Additionally, the committee condemned the excessive time Biran spent reviewing the incident on the screen, stating it exceeded official guidelines designed to minimize game delays. The ruling highlights the importance of adhering to VAR recommendations and efficient decision-making to preserve the flow of the match.