In a thrilling AFC Champions League clash, Shandong Taishan had to be extra cautious as the VAR video assistant referee on the pitch was a spectacular force, eager to help the Yokohama Mariners take the lead as if he was more eager to win than the home team's players and coaches. The VAR's judgmental techniques were astonishing, and the skill with which he operated seemed to be the focus of the match. Especially at the end of the extra time, he boldly intervened in the game several times in order to help the home team Yokohama Mariners.
VAR's three interventions were controversial: two for Yokohama Mariners' penalties and one for a red card for a Bangkok United player. Even so, the first two interventions were puzzling, even to the referee.
In the first half of overtime, the match advanced to the 100th minute when the home team kicked a corner kick and an attacking player fell to the ground in a tug of war between players from both teams (see photo below). The match proceeded as usual, and the Yokohama Mariners players did not indicate that the opponent had committed a foul. However, about a minute later, the VAR Video Assistant Referee intervened - noting that the visiting player had pulled down the home player - and awarded a penalty kick.
The referee himself was present to watch the video replay and ruled that it was a normal defensive action and did not penalize the penalty kick. Bangkok United were spared, but the video assistant referee did not give up. In the 107th minute of extra time, a Bangkok United defender intentionally tripped the Yokohama Mariners (see below).
The referee showed a yellow card warning on the spot. However, with a minute and a half remaining, the VAR again reminded the referee that this was a red card action. The referee went to the field again and realized that it was not a red card action because the Bangkok United player who committed the foul was not the last defender (see below) and the action was not enough to award a red card at all.
Despite this, the referee did not take the advice of the video assistant referee. However, the drama did not end there! Towards the end of the match, the video assistant referee finally came into play - it was the last penalty kick.
The penalty kick was full of drama! The game advanced to the 117th minute when a home player signaled a foul by a visiting player to stop a cross. The home players then argued around the penalty kick. Initially, the referee ruled it a corner kick. However, the VAR video assistant referee quickly intervened.
In the 118th minute, after communicating with VAR, the referee ruled that it was a free kick outside the penalty area (see above). The Yokohama Mariners took offense to this and continued to argue around the penalty kick. Surprisingly, the VAR Video Assistant Referee continued to communicate with the referee and insisted it was a penalty kick.
Eventually, in the 120th minute, the referee succumbed to the VAR video assistant referee's opinion and was forced to recognize the penalty kick as valid. It was this goal that helped the Yokohama Mariners beat their opponents and advance. It was a jaw-dropping VAR intervention that found ways to warm up the home team, and the behavior was so obvious that it could be described as blatantly shameless to support and help the home team. As a result, Shandong Taishan will need to be on their toes in the next round of matches against Yokohama Marinos. This kind of VAR intervention is even more excessive than the Chinese Super League!
