Specifically, in the 41st minute of the match between the Vietnam women's team and the US women's team, Hoang Thi Loan had a sensitive tackle on striker Trinity Rodman in the penalty area. Initially, referee Bouchra Karboubi did not give the US a penalty.
However, after receiving the notice from the VAR referee team, the main referee reviewed VAR and decided to award the US women's team a penalty of 11m. At the same time, the main referee also announced the error via the microphone so that all the spectators present at the stadium could know the reason for his decision.
This is a new point for the 2023 Women's World Cup. The World Football Federation (FIFA) and FIFA Referee Committee President Pierluigi collina have confirmed that at the 2023 Women's World Cup, VAR decisions will be clearly explained by referees in front of spectators on the field.
Talking to Lao Dong, former Head of the VFF Arbitration Department - Duong Van Hien commented that it was a completely correct decision. In that situation, the US player was controlling the ball, the Vietnamese women's player Hoang Thi Loan illegally entered the ball, preventing the opposing player from dribbling. This move can be said that Hoang Thi Loan was a bit careless in her calf-throwing situation, the American women's team player was more experienced so she dominated, leading to a regrettable penalty of 11m," said Mr. Hien.
Luckily for the Vietnam women's team, goalkeeper Kim Thanh won Alex Morgan's shot after successfully blocking.
Regarding the situation where the main referee consulted VAR and recognized the second goal for the US team even though the linesman had previously raised the offside flag, Mr. Hien commented: "Although the linesman raised the offside flag, the VAR team informed the main referee that it was a valid goal scoring situation for the US team. The referee's ball signaling an offside was a situation where Morgan jumped up to head the ball, but at that time the last defensive player of the Vietnamese women's team was closer to the cross, so he could not blow the offside in that situation".
