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Whether or not Video Assistant Referee (VAR) causes controversy every week Premier League, Champions League or The FA CupBut how are decisions made and are they correct?
This season, we look at key events to examine and explain the process in both VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game.
Andy Davies (@andydaviesref) is a former Select Group referee, with over 12 seasons in the elite list, working across the Premier League and Championship. With extensive experience at the elite level, he has worked within the VAR space in the Premier League and provides a unique insight into the processes, logic and protocols delivered on Premier League match days.
Referee: Joao Pinheiro
Our: Marco de Bello
Time: 29th minute
Facts: A possible second yellow card for the PSG defender Nuno Mendes For a handball offence, denying Bayern a promising attack.
Two huge handball shouts from Bayern Munich ✋
The referee does not give ❌ pic.twitter.com/FTyTUmnwQM
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 6, 2026
What happened: Referee Pinheiro initially penalized PSG’s Mendes for a deliberate handball offense that clearly prevented Bayern Munich from making a positive attack in their opponent’s half. It was perhaps a big moment in the game as Mendes, who had already received a yellow card for tripping Ollis in the fifth minute, would expect to receive a second yellow card in the situation and be sent off. However, referee Pinheiro caused confusion by awarding a free kick the other way — in favor of PSG.
In consultation with his assistant referee, the match official penalized the Bayern defender Conrad Lymer For a handball offense of his own, the same offense was immediately committed to Mendes.
VAR Review: As confusing and controversial as this incident was, it is not an incident that falls under VAR’s jurisdiction. Hence the incident could not be interfered with or reviewed.
Verdict: A confusing phenomenon — you’d expect a refereeing team at this level and stage to deliver their results with a much better process than we’ve witnessed so far. From the footage I’ve seen it’s hard to see if Bayern’s Leimer has a specific offense to his handball; However, the assistant referee had a very good view of the best angle, so we must trust his judgement.
Time: 31st minute
Facts: Bayern Munich’s possible punishment for PSG’s handball offence Joao Neves.
What happened: Like PSG Bitinha Attempting to clear the ball, it hit teammate Neves in the arm from close range. Referee Pinheiro immediately dismissed the penalty appeal.
Why it wasn’t a penalty: The Laws of the Game state that a handball is not penalized if the ball hits a player’s hand/arm after being played by a teammate, unless the ball goes directly into an opponent’s goal (or the player scores immediately afterwards, in which case an indirect free kick is awarded) or it is a deliberate action to prevent a team’s own goal.
Verdict: The right decision by the referee not to give Bayern Munich a penalty kick.
Some laws often cause confusion and this one fits that description. However, the reasoning behind this law is solid.
In its most basic form, handball in the penalty area is penalized because it is seen that a defender, by using an illegal part of the body, is gaining an unfair advantage and potentially closing off a positive opportunity for their opponent. When the ball hits a defender’s arm and is played by a teammate, the opponent’s ability to get a positive chance is not taken advantage of or stopped — quite the opposite, in fact, as it often blocks an attempted clearance from the penalty area made by a teammate, creating more pressure on the defending team. It makes no sense to penalize it as handball
However, you cannot handle the ball played by a teammate under any circumstances. A deliberate action that stops a clear goal-bound shot or certain goal is still penalized with a penalty and possibly a red card. Equally, you cannot score an opponent’s goal with your hand or arm, regardless of the ball that was previously played.
