To clear up the VAR process on Jan Bednarek's tackle on Richarlison, and the possible red card for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.
To start off, it's an extremely bizarre decision from Lee Mason. If he gives the foul, he has to give the red. #EVESOU
The VAR, Andy Madley, will not upgrade to a red for denying a goalscoring opportunity if the player did not deny a goalscoring opportunity.
It's clear from the replays that Bednarek got the ball, so no red is the correct call from the VAR.
However, the VAR cannot get involved in the award of the free-kick or the decision to book Bednarek.
A yellow card cannot be reviewed, nor can a free-kick. Only the possible red card.
So the FK and the yellow have to stand even though it may be clear it is a wrong decision.
But if referee had actually sent off Bednarek, the VAR review could then have overturned the red. Play would have restarted with a dropped ball to Southampton.
So the VAR can only cancel out the incorrect free-kick if it came with an incorrect red card.
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UEFA has confirmed the seeding rule for the QF and SF of its competitions, including Champions League, for next season.
We knew draws were to be removed for QF and SF, but not the specifics of how the home team in the second legs would be determined.
Good one for Arsenal fans.
Key theory:
Teams ranked 1-4 guaranteed to be at home in the QF.
Teams ranked 1-2 guaranteed to be at home in the SF.
However, if any of 1-4 are knocked out, seeding is not recalculated. Home advantage is effectively tied to the result of the round of 16, and then QF.
Therefore, even though Arsenal (3rd place) played PSG (15th place) in the semifinals, Arsenal would NOT be seeded at play the second leg at home if the same were to happen next season.
PSG have priority in the SF as they took the right off Liverpool (1st) by knocking them out.
Last season, Pot 1 teams played eight games in the league phase against English clubs.
They recorded recorded two wins, a draw and five losses.
This season, the 6 must play 12 games to meet the draw constraints caused by 6 Prem teams in the comp + 3 in Pot 1.
Under usual circumstances the composition of the draw pots doesn't matter anymore.
But this year, (for instance) Barcelona and Real Madrid may be forced to play Totttenham or Newcastle as one team from Pot 3 and 4, rather than, say, Slavia Prague or Bodo/Glimt, etc.
🔺 How the 31 teams qualified
🔺 Inter Miami and Messi?
🔺 The old Club World Cup still exists!
🔺 Will it be competitive?
🔺 Player burnout?
🔺 Format
🔺 Match dates
🔺 Draw on Thursday
🔺 Venues
🔺 Trophy
- No group can feature more than one team from the same confederation except UEFA, with 12 teams
- Pot 1 will have paired seedings based on the confederation rankings
- Pot 1 teams go to position 1
- Inter Miami will play the opening match
The full match schedule comprising the stadium and kick-off time for each fixture will be finalised and published once the draw has taken place, taking into account a range of factors including sporting and player-centric criteria, local and fans and broadcast considerations.