Newcastle Jets v Melbourne City: Decision to deny penalty splits experts

Arzani goes down in pen shout
Arzani goes down in pen shoutSource: Supplied
Staff Writers from Fox Sports

THE VAR drama that has clouded a number of games in this A-League season has reared its head once again - in a critical moment of the huge semi-final clash between Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City.

City were leading 1-0 when Daniel Arzani went to ground due to a kick out from Jets defender Johnny Koutroumbis in the 22nd minute.

Referee Shaun Evans initially waved away a big penalty shout from the young gun, allowing play to continue until a stoppage prompted a VAR look at the incident.

Replays appeared to show clear contact prompting Arzani to go to ground in the area, but after a lengthy conversation betwee the officials, Evans allowed play to go on - much to the ire of City boss Warren Joyce.

Fox Sports’ analysts were split in their verdict of the decision.

“Its a penalty for me,” said Mark Bosnich.

“The problem that I only see is that you’re getting people to judge on the levels of a mistake. So was it an obvious error? What constitutes an obvious error? If its a 7/10, 8/10? If its an error its and error and for me this is a penalty.”

John Kosmina argued that Arzani’s reputation for going to ground easily cost his side in the ruling.

Arzani goes down under a challenge from Koutroumbis <a class="capi-image" capiId="eca0ce4618ed1f980cd241b2ab4003ae"></a>Source: Supplied

“I think Daniel Arzani went to ground too easy. Its as simple as that and unfortunately the kid has a reputation for it and the referees they’re humans, they’re going to make mistakes. They’re going to judge, its in the back of their minds and for me he went down too easy.”

Daniel McBreen added “For me the contact there, he could have kept going. He felt the contact, the arms go up he went straight down, he went down way too easy.”

According to a Fox Sports poll on Twitter, 62% of 247 fan votes suggest that the decision was incorrect.

While there was an outcry on the social media platform in revolt to the call.

“Whats the point of VAR? I thought those situations were why we have it in place,” one fan said, while another added “there is something wrong there.”