I think the question on that potential ATL handball is whether the arm was hanging at his side or if he moved it outside his natural frame to block the path of the ball. I didn't get a great look yesterday, but I'm leaning towards the latter now that I've rewatched it a few times.
I've only seen it in slow motion. My reaction was that it could have been called, but I'm personally leaning towards no foul. I have no doubt that the VAR was correct to not intervene, but the fact that Atlanta scored immediately after this made it one of the most important VAR decisions of the season. It was one of those situations where one fan base is going to be furious no matter what the outcome is.
That PK dive by RSL and VAR reviewed PK was a la Berhaulter down in Costa Rica WCQ '01 hand growing outta his head so ref gifts a PK for a win late on. I've been following our MLS since day one and even though it was against my team, still worst PK dive and subsequent bs ref awarding such theatrics. Beasley has played across the globe at the club level and for our U.S.A. in four World Cups. He is as honest of a footballer is as the day is long. His reaction to that dive and call said it all.
Are you an inner city coach, or perhaps local ref or a long time soccer die hard of MLS? Every man or woman will have their own opinion but do speak of your depth with officiating of association football.
Started reffing at the age of 20. Over the last 9 or so years, my hobby has been tracking MLS referees, keeping statistics as well as attempting to preserve a piece of the early history of the league. In the process I've networked with numerous professional referees past and present, and with many of them I regularly discuss refereeing in MLS and beyond. Anyway, Beasley stuck his right leg out into the path of the opponent. There's a clear point of contact on the opponent's knee. Those two facts SHOULD have been enough for the VAR to not recommend an on-field review because there's not enough evidence that the call was a clear and obvious error. From the referee's point of view, Beasley has no reason to leave his leg out other than as an attempt to trip an opponent. That in itself isn't enough for a foul, but when actual contact is made the referee must consider it a careless attempt to trip, and that is a foul. The only real sliver of doubt is that the fouled player was kinda sorta falling already by the time Beasley made contact, but there's no where for him to go but into the defender's leg at that point anyway. So was he attempting to deceive the referee, or did he just anticipate the coming unavoidable contact?
Right on. Actually well said. I digress. However, As on old inner city coach here in Houston, (my varsity won district 15 outta 18 last seasons in inner city Houston n our rival Elsik 6A, we are 5A, we won our Region South Texas again and Elsik just 5 miles down Westheimer won USA Today's National Champions, I would not want my OWN TEAM to win a match with such a suspect PK. A Penalty Kick foul in soccer here in Texas better be a legit take down. The U.S.A. vs. Mexico rivalry is taken serious down here. Thus us coaches in Texas do not give credence to diving in the 18. Respect.