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Attacking offences
Clear Line

Attacking offences

The term attacking possession phase (APP) refers to the period when the attacking team is in possession of the ball, immediately before a goal, penalty, red card given for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity (DOGSO) or a second yellow card for stopping a promising attack (SPA). We examine what referees must consider in their decision-making, and where VAR should intervene if required.
Overview Offside Foul / handball Foul before ball in play Overview Offside Foul / handball Foul before ball in play

Foul/handball in the attacking phase of play

An attacking foul or handball in the build-up can cancel what follows, and a foul that was wrongly given can restore it.

  • VAR should recommend awarding the goal, penalty or red card where available footage clearly shows that no foul or handball offence occurred.
  • VAR should recommend cancelling a goal, penalty or red card where the referee has missed a clear attacking foul or handball offence in the attacking phase of play.
  • If there is no clear footage, VAR should not intervene.

The rationale

A foul or handball by the attacking team in the build-up means the goal, penalty or red card that followed cannot stand. The opposite also applies. If the referee stops an attack for a foul or handball that did not happen, the goal, penalty or red card can still be awarded. VAR looks only at whether a clear offence occurred in the attacking phase of play. Judgements of degree, such as the force used in a challenge, remain with the referee, so VAR intervenes only where the footage is clear.

✅ When VAR should recommend cancelling a goal, penalty, red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity or second yellow card for stopping a promising attack

  • the referee misses a clear attacking foul or handball offence in the APP. (Videos 1-6 below)

Video 1 – Foul/handball: Goal disallowed for foul on goalkeeper

Video 2 – Foul/handball: Goal disallowed due to tripping

Video 3 – Foul/handball: Goal disallowed due to pushing

Video 4 – Foul/handball: No handball offence as player is charged by opponent, direct free kick to defending team

Video 5 – Foul/handball: Direct free kick due to pulling before penalty incident

Video 6 – Foul/handball: Goal disallowed due to handball offence by attacking team

✅ When VAR should recommend awarding a goal, penalty kick, red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity or second yellow card for stopping a promising attack

  • the referee incorrectly awards a free-kick to the defending team and the available footage clearly shows that no foul or handball offence occurred. (Videos 7 and 8 below)
Video 7 – Foul/handball: Goal should be awarded, goalscorer did not commit offence on goalkeeper

Video 8 – Foul/handball: Goal should be awarded, goalscorer did not control ball with arm

❌ When VAR should not intervene

  • there is no clear footage showing an attacking foul or handball offence.
  • VAR needs to evaluate the force used by the player to determine whether a foul occurred. This judgement remains with the referee.

A decision standing after a check is not VAR failing to act, it is VAR finding no clear and obvious error to correct.