Jordan goal invalid, say experts and referees

In the 38th minute of the match, referee Faghani Alireza awarded an indirect free kick to Jordan inside the box. Baha’ Abdel Rahman took the kick and scored the first goal of the match.

Duong Van Hien, head of the Vietnam Football Federation’s Council of Referees said that Alireza had made the right call in awarding the indirect free kick.

"According to FIFA’s rules, an indirect free kick is awarded if a player plays in a dangerous manner. In this case, Do Hung Dung put his feet up too high and although he didn’t do any harm to the Jordan player, the referee had a reason to make the call," Hien said.

While other experts agreed with Hien, they said the goal was not legit because Jordan used a direct freekick instead of the indirect one awarded.

"Alireza was wrong in counting the goal for Jordan, because the ball had not even moved when he (Baha’ Abdel Rahman) took it. According to the rule, the ball has to be in play before the player takes it," said referee Vo Quang Vinh.

A former V. League 1 referee also said the ball was not moved by a Jordanian player before Baha’ scored the goal.

"The referee should have disallowed this goal," he said.

 

 

Jordan goal invalid, say experts and referees

1-0 cho Jordan

Hien also agreed that the goal was invalid.

"In the book, the ball has to have a move before a shot in an indirect free kick. We need to watch the video of that goal carefully to see if the ball was moved or not. From my view, the ball was not touched before he scored," Hien said.

According to the book (FIFA's Laws of the Game), an indirect free kick is "a free kick from which a goal can only be scored if another player (of either team) touches the ball after it has been kicked."

After the controversial goal, Vietnam equalized and won 4-2 on penalties.

Vietnam will play the quarterfinal game on January 24 with the winner of Saudi Arabia and Japan match.