We're analyzing every VAR decision made across the 51 matches of Euro 2024. On Monday, Belgium thought they had scored a crucial equalizer against Slovakia in the 86th minute, but VAR had other ideas.
After each match, we analyze the main incidents to examine and explain the process in terms of the VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game.
Possible handball: Openda in preparation for Lukaku's goal
What happened: Romelu Lukaku equalized in the 86th minute when he finished off a good shot from Loïs Openda, who cut the ball for the striker to score. As soon as the ball entered the back of the net, Slovakian defender Denis Vavro asked for a handball and as the Belgian players ran to celebrate, the VAR, Germany's Bastian Dankert, began checking.
VAR decision: Goal disallowed.
VAR review: It is the type of handball in the build-up to a goal that may not be seen in the Premier League, but is always likely to be penalized in UEFA competitions, which have a much stricter interpretation.
Since Openda was not the scorer of the goal, the VAR and the referee, the Turkish Halil Umut Meler, must judge that it was a deliberate act.
Openda was trying to contain Vavro and his fingers brushed the ball as he lowered his hand. Some will feel the arm movement is deliberate, but many others will believe it was his natural body movement and should never lead to a VAR review.
It is not the type of decision anyone expected VAR to make when it was introduced, but UEFA will insist that its guidelines apply in these cases. But it leaves a bad taste.
UEFA also had the opportunity to show off for the first time its new “snicko” feature, which uses a “heartbeat” line to show that the ball, which has a chip inside, has been touched by the hand. It was expected that this would be used for a player who had scored a goal, rather than a possible deliberate handball in the build-up. If you need “snicko” to demonstrate handball, is it really that important for the goal?
Possible offside: Lukaku when scoring
What happened: Belgium scored in the 56th minute when Lukaku finished from close range after Amadou Onana headed towards the goal. As Belgium celebrated, it was clear that VAR would have to complete an offside check.
VAR decision: Goal disallowed.
VAR review: The handball was not the first setback for Lukaku in this match, as the VAR disallowed two goals for the striker.
In this previous incident, half of his body was in front of the ball while Onana was heading it.
While Lukaku was in front of the last defender, the goal would have counted if he had been behind the ball.
