The video assistant referee (VAR) causes controversy every week no matter who it is Premier League, Champions League Or fa cupBut how are decisions taken and are they right?
This season, we’ll take a look at key events to examine and explain the process in terms of both VAR protocol and the laws of the game.
Andy Davies (@andydaviesref) is a former Select Group referee with over 12 seasons on the elite list, officiating in the Premier League and Championship. With extensive experience at the elite level, he has worked within the VAR area in the Premier League and offers a unique insight into the processes, logic and protocols provided on a Premier League match day.
Ref: joao pinheiro
wise: marco de bello
Time: 29th minute
Event: Possible second yellow card for PSG defender Nuno Mendes For a handball offence, depriving Bayern of a promising attack.
Two big handball slogans from Bayern Munich ✋
The ref doesn’t give ❌ pic.twitter.com/FTyTUmnwQM
– CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) 6 May 2026
What happened: Referee Pinheiro initially penalized PSG’s Mendes for a deliberate handball offense, which clearly prevented Bayern Munich from making a positive attack in their opponent’s half. This was potentially a big moment in the game as Mendes, who was already on a yellow card for bringing down Olise in the fifth minute, would expect to receive a second yellow card in this situation and be sent off. However, referee Pinheiro created confusion by awarding a free kick the other way in favor of PSG.
After consulting his assistant referee, the match official penalized the Bayern defender Konrad Leimer For a handball offense of his own in the immediate build-up to Mendes committing the same offence.
VAR Review: As confusing and controversial as this incident was, it is not an incident that falls under VAR’s jurisdiction. Therefore, it was not able to intervene or review the incident.
Decision: A confusing incident – you would expect a refereeing team at this stage and at this level to deliver their results with a far better process than they did at the time. From the footage I have seen, it is difficult to see whether Bayern’s Leimer committed any definite handball offences; However, the assistant referee had a very good perspective at best, so we must trust his judgment.
Time: 31st minute
Event: Bayern Munich potentially fined for handball offense by PSG joao neves.
What happened: as psg vitinha An attempt was made to clear the ball, but it hit teammate Neves’ arm at close range. Referee Pinheiro immediately rejected the penalty appeal.
Why it was not a fine: The rules of the game state that in handball a penalty is not awarded if the ball hits a player’s hand/arm after being played by a teammate, unless the ball goes directly into the opponent’s goal (or the player scores immediately afterward, in which case an indirect free kick is awarded) or it is a deliberate action to prevent the ball going into the team’s own goal, in which case a penalty will be awarded.
Decision: It is the right decision by the referee not to give a penalty kick to Bayern Munich.
Some laws often cause confusion, and this is one that fits that statement. However, the logic behind this law is solid.
In its most basic form, handball in the penalty area is penalized when it is seen that a defender, by using an illegal part of the body, is gaining an unfair advantage and potentially preventing a positive opportunity for the opponents. When the ball hits a defender’s hand and is played by a teammate, it does not provide any advantage or prevent the opponent’s ability to get a positive opportunity – in fact quite the contrary, as it often stops attempted clearances by teammates away from the penalty area, creating more pressure when defending. There is no point in punishing it as handball.
However, you cannot easily handle the ball played by a teammate under any circumstances. A deliberate action that prevents a clear goal-bound shot or certain goal will still be punished by a penalty and potentially a red card. Equally, you cannot score a goal with your hand or arm into the opponent’s goal, regardless of who played the ball first.
