The VAR Review: Why Henderson should have been sent off for DOGSO - ESPN

Video Assistant Referee causes controversy every week, but how are decisions made, and are they correct?

In the FA Cup final on Saturday, Manchester City felt Crystal Palace should have been reduced to 10 men when goalkeeper Dean Henderson handled outside the area. Did they have a case, or did the VAR make the correct decision?

What happened: The game was in the 23rd minute when Josko Gvardiol played a long ball over the top for Erling Haaland to run on to. The Norway international was ahead of the defense when the Palace keeper came out to the edge of the area. As Haaland raised a boot to play the ball past Henderson, he reached out a glove and batted the ball away. Play continued as the VAR, Jarred Gillett, checked for a possible red card.

VAR decision: No red card.

VAR review: A handball offense is judged by the position of the ball when it's touched by the hand, so even though Henderson was stood inside the area, he touched the ball when it was outside. The assistant didn't spot that the ball was outside the area, so there was no free kick given — and the VAR cannot intervene just on this basis alone.

A goalkeeper handling outside the area isn't in itself a sanctionable offense. Whether there should be a yellow or red card, or no action, is determined by the impact on the attacking team. You don't get sent off for handball, but for the effect.

In VAR terms, Gillett can only get involved if he thinks there should be a red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO).

It was decided that as the ball was going away from goal, there was only the possibility of a scoring chance rather than it being obvious.

Verdict: There have been only two VAR red cards for DOGSO this season — for Arsenal's William