Referee Chris Beath is praised for upholding a tough decision after VAR vision was inconclusive

Chris Beath signals for the VAR.
Chris Beath signals for the VAR.Source: FOX SPORTS
Staff Writers from Fox Sports

THE use of the VAR has proven contentious at times.

But on Sunday afternoon, referee Chris Beath took a pragmatic approach to employing the technology.

In the 39th minute of Adelaide’s clash with Perth, defender Shane Lowry was called for a handball.

Beath checked with his assistant referee and paid a free kick, believing it to have happened just outside the box.

Following a VAR consultation, Beath elected to check the vision himself, as Adelaide players looked for a penalty.

But Beath — who spoke to captains Isaias and Andy Keogh before announcing his decision — appeared to be unable to find clear enough vision to overturn his original call.

Shane Lowry handballs the ball.Source: FOX SPORTS

Chris Beath signals for the VAR.Source: FOX SPORTS

Chris Beath speaks to both captains.Source: FOX SPORTS

The referee was praised for his pragmatic use of the VAR.

“I was on the sideline … and I was looking at the VAR screen. And the pictures, they just weren’t clear enough for him to make the right decision,” former Sydney FC defender Sasa Ognenovski said on Fox Sports.

“In the end, he’s made the right decision because it wasn’t clear.”

That said, former Glory player Jamie Harnwell said he believed the ball was at least on the line and should have been a penalty.

“I think you look at Lowry’s feet, the way he was positioned, it’s difficult to see how that ball woldn’t have been on some part of the line (when it) struck his arm,” Harnwell said on Fox Sports.