Six minutes and twenty-six seconds elapsed in Olomouc
More than six minutes elapsed between a penalty foul and a disallowed goal during a Chance Liga match between SK Sigma Olomouc and FC Zbrojovka Brno, where video assistant referee technology incorrectly interpreted official rules. During the 13th round fixture, Brno captain Jakub Klíma fouled Anton Ekeroth inside the penalty area with less than twenty minutes remaining on the clock. Referee Stanislav Volek correctly identified the challenge and pointed to the spot, while former top-tier referee Pavel Královec noted that the defending player acted with excessive risk. Pavel Mareš, an expert, stated that there was no doubt about the correctness of awarding the spot-kick, explaining that Klíma made a mistake and kicked the opponent while trying to play the ball.
Dominik Janošek missed the initial spot-kick
Olomouc captain Dominik Janošek failed to convert the initial penalty kick after striking the goalpost. The rebound bounced toward the edge of the penalty area, where Marko Soldo delivered a cross to the small box for an unmarked Václav Sejk to score on the volley. Referee Volek disallowed the goal on the recommendation of video assistant referee Pavel Ochotnický without reviewing the monitor himself, treating the intervention as a factual decision by the VAR. According to iDNES.cz, the match officials ultimately did not alter the final 3-0 scoreline or deny Sejk his goal permanently, but the sequence triggered widespread confusion on the pitch.
Pavel Mareš identified the rule misinterpretation
Pavel Mareš, an expert analyst for iDNES.cz, former referee, and former league delegate, stated in the program Odpískáno that the goal should have stood and the penalty should not have been retaken. Under Rule 14, a penalty-taking team’s player entering the area early is only penalized if they directly influence the subsequent play. Because Soldo touched the ball first without violating any regulations, a brand-new phase of play began before Sejk scored. Královec emphasized that Sejk’s prior positioning should not have invalidated the subsequent sequence, confirming that the VAR seemingly misread the protocol regarding encroachment and secondary play. Mareš noted that players from both teams entered the penalty area before the ball was put into play, most noticeably home player Sejk and visiting player Vedral. Mareš also pointed out that if even the defenders who entered prematurely did not affect the penalty taker or the immediate fight for the rebounded ball, there was no reason to punish any player’s infraction.
Tomáš Chorý faced a contrasting penalty ruling
A similar penalty retake occurred during a September fixture between SK Slavia Praha and FC Viktoria Plzeň, where Slavia won 2-1. In that instance, Tomáš Chorý missed a stoppage-time penalty, and Plzeň defender Merchas Doski cleared the rebound off the post after entering the box early and directly influencing the play. Unlike the Olomouc incident where an uninvolved attacker touched the ball first to reset the phase, the Plzeň infraction met all criteria for a mandatory spot-kick repetition. Královec added that in other debatable moments of the weekend action, the referees and VAR resolved situations correctly, noting that in Pardubice, Pavel Orel recalled an incorrectly awarded penalty after a shot from Liberec player Dulay hit the hand of home player Krčík, with Královec noting that the position of the hit hand was a natural and justifiable consequence of the player’s stance and movement without increasing his body volume or moving against the ball.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Olomouc VAR Controversy
Who was the referee in charge of the Olomouc and Brno match?
Stanislav Volek served as the main referee for the 13th-round encounter, while Pavel Ochotnický operated as the video assistant referee.
Why did Václav Sejk ultimately take the repeated penalty?
Olomouc captain Dominik Janošek was substituted off during the prolonged video review, leaving Sejk to take the subsequent spot-kick.
How long did the entire review process take?
More than six minutes passed between the initial foul committed by Jakub Klíma and Sejk successfully converting from the penalty spot.