VAR Assessment: Why Lukaku aim was dominated out for Openda handball

We’re analysing each VAR determination made all through all 51 video games at Euro 2024. On Monday, Belgium thought that they had scored an important equaliser in opposition to Slovakia within the 86th minute, however the VAR had different concepts.

After every sport, we check out the most important incidents to look at and clarify the method when it comes to VAR protocol and the Legal guidelines of the Sport.

Attainable handball: Openda in buildup to Lukaku aim

What occurred: Romelu Lukaku bagged an 86th-minute equaliser when he swept dwelling a shot after good work by Loïs Openda, who minimize the ball again for the striker to attain. As quickly because the ball hit the again of the web Slovakia defender Denis Vavro appealed for handball, and because the Belgium gamers raced away to have fun, the VAR, Bastian Dankert of Germany, started a examine.

VAR determination: Aim disallowed.

VAR evaluate: It is the type of handball within the buildup to a aim which you’ll not see within the Premier League, however is at all times more likely to be penalised in UEFA competitors which has a a lot stricter interpretation.

As Openda wasn’t the aim scorer, the VAR and the referee, Turkey’s Halil Umut Meler, have to evaluate it to be a deliberate act.

Openda was making an attempt to carry off Vavro and his fingers brushed the ball as his hand got here down. Some will really feel the motion of the arm is deliberate, however many others will imagine it was the pure motion of his physique and will by no means lead to a VAR evaluate.

It isn’t the type of determination anybody actually anticipated VAR to be making when it was launched, however UEFA will insist on its tips being utilized in these circumstances. However it does go away a foul style.

UEFA additionally acquired the prospect to point out its new “snicko” characteristic for the primary time, which makes use of a “heartbeat” line to show the ball, which has a chip inside it, has been touched by the hand. It was anticipated this may be used for a participant who had scored a aim, reasonably than a potential deliberate handball within the buildup. If you happen to want “snicko” to show the handball, is it actually that consequential to the aim?

Attainable offside: Lukaku when scoring

What occurred: Belgium scored within the 56th minute when Lukaku tapped dwelling from shut vary after Amadou Onana headed again throughout aim. Whereas Belgium celebrated it was clear that the VAR would wish to finish an offside examine.

VAR determination: Aim disallowed.

VAR evaluate: The handball wasn’t the primary heartbreak for Lukaku on this sport, with the striker having two objectives dominated out by the VAR.

For this earlier incident, half of his physique was in entrance of the ball because it was headed by Onana.

Whereas Lukaku was in entrance of the final defender, the aim would have counted if he had been behind the ball.