Each week a-league.com.au will be speaking with FFA Director of Referees Ben Wilson to review some of the contentious refereeing and VAR incidents from the weekend’s matches.

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Ben, there were four contentious decisions involving the offside on the weekend, can explain those interpretations for us.

In Sydney, Siem de Jong scored a goal in the 62nd minute. The Assistant Referee had identified that Adam Le Fondre was in an offside position but was unsure if the ball was last played by an attacker or a defender and allowed play to continue and the goal to be scored.

The VAR checked the incident and identified that the ball was played by an attacking player and that Le Fondre was offside. After a VAR Review the goal was correctly disallowed.



In Wellington, the Mariners had a goal disallowed after the Assistant Referee flagged Jordan Murray for being offside. As the referee didn’t blow his whistle until after the goal had been scored it was within protocol for the VAR to check the incident.

They determined that whilst it was close the camera angles available confirmed that the player was offside and definitely not clearly and obviously wrong, and play was restarted with the free kick for offside.



In Perth, Diego Castro scored a goal after a shot rebounded to him after being initially saved by the Wanderers goalkeeper. The VAR checked the goal and determined that when the initial shot was taken Diego Castro was onside.

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The VAR also determined that while Jason Davidson was in an offside position when the initial shot was taken he did not commit an offside offence. The VAR agreed with the on-field decision and the goal was correctly allowed to stand.



In Melbourne, Kaine Sheppard scored a goal for the Jets in the 78th minute. The VAR checked the goal and determined that at the time of the initial shot by Matthew Ridenton, Sheppard was in an onside position and Roy O’Donovan was in an offside position.

As play continued the ball was deflected to Sheppard who proceeds to score the goal. O’Donovan does not interfere with play or an opponent and does not commit an offside offence and the goal is correctly awarded.

There were also a number of penalties awarded for holding on the weekend, talk us through those.

In Wellington, the Mariners were awarded a penalty when Matt Simon was being held by Steven Taylor when attempting to challenge for the ball in the penalty area. The VAR checked the incident and agreed with the on-field decision to award a penalty for the Mariners.

In Sydney, Adelaide United were awarded a penalty after Aaron Calver held back George Blackwood in the penalty area. The VAR checked the incident and agreed with the referee’s decision to award a penalty for Adelaide.



In Perth, the Glory were awarded a penalty after the referee judged that Andy Keogh was being held by Brendan Hamill in the penalty area.

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The VAR checked the incident and determined that Hamill was holding Keogh as he received the ball and given the level of initial contact the on-field decision was upheld as it was not clearly and obviously wrong.