Stephan Lannoy, serving as the head of the Refereeing Committee (ΚΕΔ), provided his weekly detailed review of the contentious moments from the latest round of matches. He confirmed that the red card shown to Bartłomiej Drągowski of Panathinaikos was justified, while criticizing the penalty awarded to Panserraikos as an incorrect decision.
In-Depth Review of Controversial Incidents in the 18th Matchday
The French chief referee concentrated his analysis primarily on the Panserraikos vs. Panathinaikos clash and the high-profile fixture between Olympiacos and Aris at the Karaiskakis Stadium.
Drągowski’s Dismissal and the Disputed Penalty in Panserraikos – Panathinaikos
Lannoy explained: “During this sequence, the home team’s attacker deliberately obstructed the visiting goalkeeper, pushing him twice. In response, the goalkeeper lightly pushed back with his left hand and then headbutted the opponent face-to-face. The correct call is a foul awarded to the defending side, a yellow card for the attacker, and a red card for the goalkeeper due to violent conduct. Additionally, the VAR should intervene to overturn the penalty decision.”
Penalty Appeal by Aris for Rodinei’s Challenge on Darida
Regarding the incident where Aris requested a penalty against Olympiacos, Lannoy stated: “The defender never made contact with the ball and fouled the attacker inside the penalty area by bringing him down. Therefore, a penalty kick is warranted, and VAR should have been used to correct the oversight.”
Olympiacos’ Penalty Claim for Ortega’s Shirt Pull by Saverio
On the matter of the alleged shirt pull, Lannoy noted: “The defender did pull the attacker’s shirt while Ortega was already off-balance, but the slight tug did not cause a collision. Hence, play should continue without awarding a penalty.”
Aris’ Goal and the Preceding Foul Controversy
“In this case, the Aris player committed a foul by knocking down his opponent, which led to an attacking opportunity culminating in a goal. The goal should have been disallowed, and VAR intervention was expected to rectify the error but did not occur,” Lannoy emphasized.
Disallowed Goal by El Kaabi Due to Clear Push
“This situation involved an unmistakable shove by the attacker on the defender’s back during a cross. Even though the defender never managed to play the ball in the air, the foul was evident. The goal was rightly canceled following VAR review, which is crucial if the referee misses the incident,” he concluded.
Modern Refereeing Challenges and VAR’s Role in Greek Football
As the Greek Super League continues to evolve, the integration of VAR technology remains pivotal in ensuring fairness and accuracy. According to recent statistics from the 2023-2024 season, VAR interventions have corrected approximately 15% of on-field decisions, highlighting its growing influence. However, debates persist regarding its consistency and timing, especially in high-stakes matches like Olympiacos vs. Aris, where split-second judgments can alter championship trajectories.
For instance, in a recent La Liga encounter, a similar VAR review overturned a penalty after detecting a subtle shirt pull, demonstrating the technology’s increasing precision. Such examples underscore the importance of continuous referee training and technological upgrades to maintain the integrity of the game.