The two second-leg semifinal matches in the Macedonia Cup were of particular importance for all four teams, which entered them with the outcome still in the balance. The matches featured several challenging situations for the referees, as well as for the VAR referees.
In the match in Kumanovo between FC Shkendija Arachinovo and FC Shkendija Tetovo, in the 90th minute, a direct red card was shown to player No. 11 for provocative, unsporting and vulgar gestures towards the crowd (showing his middle finger). Following an excellent prior intervention and cooperation with the second assistant referee, Aleksandar Gjurovski, who observed this player’s impermissible behaviour, the match referee, Stojanche Stojanov, correctly showed a direct red card.
In the match in Kratovo between FC Sileks and GFK Ohrid Lihnidos, there were three challenging refereeing situations in the penalty areas.
Specifically, the first situation occurred in the 24th minute of the match, when GFK Ohrid Lihnidos defender No. 23, inside his own penalty area, attempted to clear the ball and prevent the opponent from playing it, but stepped on FC Sileks player No. 8, thereby committing a foul by stepping on him. Referee Igor Stojchevski was in the immediate vicinity, had an unobstructed angle and correctly recognised the foul, sanctioning it promptly with a penalty kick.
The second situation occurred in the 33rd minute of the first half. GFK Ohrid Lihnidos defender No. 6 committed a foul by clearly holding/pulling FC Sileks AD player No. 9, who was in front of the defender and reached the ball first and played it, but uncontrollably and while being fouled. Although the referee was in the immediate vicinity and had a good angle, he failed to recognise the foul, after which there was a correct VAR intervention and, following an on-field review, the correct decision was made, namely a penalty kick.
The third situation occurred in the 62nd minute, inside FC Sileks’ penalty area, when, following a low cross from the left into the penalty area, the ball was stopped with the foot by the home team’s defender No. 7, after which the ball rebounded from his foot onto his hand. In accordance with UEFA instructions, in deflection situations where the ball rebounds off any part of a player’s body or head onto his hand, particularly when the ball strikes the hand and the hand has not moved towards the ball, there is no offence warranting a penalty kick; that is, this accidental contact with the player’s hand is not punishable. The referee’s assessment that there were no grounds for a penalty kick was correct, and it was properly checked and confirmed by the VAR referees.
The Referees’ Committee expresses its complete satisfaction with the refereeing performances displayed and the consistent application of the Laws of the Game in these two exceptionally important Cup semifinal matches. During the matches, multiple correct and timely decisions were made in complex situations, while the referees also maintained consistent disciplinary criteria, with all yellow and red cards shown being entirely correct and confirmed by the VAR referees. Once again, the great importance of VAR technology in making correct refereeing decisions and ensuring the regularity of the competition was confirmed.
