Expert Analysis Clears Refereeing Decisions in Esteghlal Tehran Match
A detailed review by officiating experts has affirmed the correctness of several key refereeing decisions in the recent Persian Gulf Pro League match between Esteghlal Khuzestan and Esteghlal Tehran.
The Officiating Team
The match was overseen by referee Hassan Akrami. He was assisted by linesmen Farhad Farhadpour, Danial Bashandeh, and Shahab Mohammadi. The VAR team consisted of Amir Arab-Barghi and assistant Ali Ahmadi, under the supervision of refereeing assessor Akbar Bakhshizadeh.
Review of Key Incidents
Minute 40: Disallowed Goal for Esteghlal Khuzestan
The most significant controversy involved the disallowance of a second goal for Esteghlal Khuzestan. Expert analyst Mohammadi clarified the decision, stating, “The Khuzestan player stopped the Esteghlal defender (Aghasi) with a foul. Essentially, this infringement should have been called immediately, even before the goal was scored and prior to any VAR review. The decision to disallow the goal was correct.”
Minute 78: Second Yellow Card and Dismissal
The issuance of a second yellow card to a Khuzestan player following a foul on Yaser Asani was also reviewed by VAR. Mohammadi supported the referee’s action, noting, “It was a clear and persistent foul. The referee’s decision was correct despite protests from the Khuzestan players.”
Broader Officiating Assessment
In an interview with the Borna News Agency, renowned refereeing expert Rodneil provided a broader analysis of the match’s first half. He confirmed that the numerous yellow cards shown to players from both teams were all justified and legal.
Regarding Esteghlal Khuzestan’s goal in the 34th minute, which was allowed to stand, Rodneil emphasized, “The goal by the Ahvaz team had no issues and was completely correct.”
However, he expressed surprise at an offside incident in the 47th minute, questioning why the assistant referee did not raise the flag. Rodneil also pointed out that Esteghlal Tehran’s Saeed Saharkhizan should have received a yellow card in the 49th minute.
On the matter of added time, the veteran official noted, “I did not understand why the referee announced 9 minutes of added time for the first half; ultimately, 6 minutes would have been sufficient for this half.”
The expert consensus provides clarity, confirming that the officiating team’s critical decisions aligned with the regulations and maintained the integrity of the competition.
Source: Intitar
