Your weekly source of information and entertainment, Sports Journal #42 brought to you by our journalists, is here! 📖⚽

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1/ FOOTBALL QUIZ

2/ IF I WERE AN ADMIN…(part two and the last)

3/ PLAYING WITH YOUR HEAD: WHAT REALLY DECIDES WINNING IN A FOOTBALL TEAM?

4/ TOP 3 LEGENDS DOMINATING THE SERVER

5/ POTENTIAL FUTURE STARS 

6/ HIGHLIGHTS OF THE THIRD WEEK OF SEASON 76

7/ ABOUT EVERYTHING AND NOTHING. HOW WE CAME TO THE NEW SERVER 

8/ REFEREE CONTROVERSIES THROUGH THE EYES OF THE MANAGER #13

FOOTBALL QUIZ

Hello! I'm here with another part of the football quiz series. Of course, there are prizes in the form of 100 Keys 🔑 Premium for the first person to answer correctly and 10,000 ⚡ Energy for two random people with the correct answer. 

I'll choose the winners on Thursday at 8 p.m. Let's start!

1/ Name and surname of the player:

Born on April 1, 1927 in Budapest, he is one of the greatest footballers in history. His career was full of successes, and his name became synonymous with the beautiful game. He began his football adventure in Kispest Budapest in 1942. Even at a young age, he distinguished himself with extraordinary talent and quickly became the star of the team. In 1945, he made his debut in the Hungarian national team, starting the era of dominance of Hungarian football.

The 1950s were a golden period for Hungarian football, and the player was its undisputed leader. Together with his teammates, he formed a team called the "Golden Eleven", which won the gold medal at the 1952 Olympic Games and reached the final of the 1954 World Cup. The player was a true "national hero" and scored 84 goals in 85 matches for the Hungarian national team.

After the Hungarian revolution in 1956, he emigrated to Spain and joined Real Madrid. There he continued his impressive career, winning 5 Spanish league titles and 3 European Cups. In 1961, he received Spanish citizenship and played 4 matches for the Spanish national team.

After retiring from football in 1966, he began working as a coach. He coached many clubs, including Alaves, Panathinaikos and Colo-Colo. His experience and knowledge were valued in the world of football.

He died on 17 November 2006 in Budapest. His death was a great loss to the world of football. However, his memory will live on in the hearts of fans all over the world.

He was not only an outstanding footballer, but also a true ambassador of football. His style of play, full of elegance and finesse, inspired generations of footballers. He is a football legend whose name is written in the pages of history. His career was full of successes, and his talent and skills were undeniable. His memory will live on in the hearts of fans all over the world.

Author: Wylewinho

IF I WERE AN ADMIN…(part two and the last)

In the first part of my considerations about what I would like to change if I were an admin, I wrote more from the perspective of team play (for those interested, LINK). Today I would like to share a few observations from the perspective of individual player development.

Although FootballTeam is a browser game, it is not immune to such a phenomenon as inflation. We have had several changes that have made it easier to gain Energy.

Reorganization of rewards for completed tasks, multiplied rewards for collections or duels, free opening of Energy Packs and later increasing the Energy that can be obtained in these packs, and a shop offer that is constantly adapted to the needs of users.

Of course, these are just a few changes in recent months that have made it easier to get Energy than before. And although some things have been updated, some have not. Here I go back to the beginning of the paragraph with inflation. Because if you have to do 14,100 training to get the 50% bonus, and the prize from the daily draw is usually 200 or 400 Energy, then let's agree - it's hard to even call it an addition to the necessary training. I think that this module hasn't been updated for so long that it would be worth considering changes - it probably wouldn't even be a difficult and time-consuming task to do.

Similarly archaic prizes were available for winning an individual medal until recently. While this has changed in the first league (the prize for first place still "looks" good), the other leagues are a joke. The prize for a gold medal in the second league is - drumroll - 8 premium keys and 8 boosters.

It's worth considering whether it wouldn't be necessary to reward the more outstanding players in the given leagues. It would also be beneficial for the movement between clubs, and maybe even leagues. It's not hard for me to imagine a situation where a striker at the 1st league level drops to the 2nd league because he could win rewards in normal situations that are unavailable to him.

The canteen is another area that requires changes. Recently, we got a permanent change in the work module - it used to be a weekend or event option, and now the work is always tripled - both in Energy and in reward. The change is enough to save time clicking, but together with the +1000% drink for work it already gives a solid injection of Euro.

The same is missing in the Canteen. 125 energy in 15 minutes? A dizzying 135 Energy for an hour-long meal? But on the other hand, when you click on the meal called chicken breast with rice in the morning and log in to your account after 6 hours, you will see an incredible 400 Energy more. 

My last interviewee, KamiL Maj, did mention in an interview that he gets Energy, among other things, from the canteen. I am a much less active and experienced player, but it doesn't bother me - in event conditions, with a 40% reduction in training, the cost of 120 minutes of training is 27,648 Energy (I'm talking about a level above the 14,200 already trained). Boosters are another big topic. 

They used to be needed to unlock specializations. After the changes, when specializations can be unlocked in card collections (although it is quite a demanding collection) and their cost can be reduced once with drinks, the role of boosters has changed. We can exchange them for Energy, for example. The booster event is ongoing, the amount of Energy that can be obtained for one booster is increased. When exchanging 200 boosters, we will get 15,000 Energy. Of course, it's much better than buying energy in a store (200 boosters cost 400 credits on the market, in a store 5,375 energy costs 500 credits), but how does it relate to the price of training (the aforementioned 27k energy for 2h of training)?

Although I understand that the 50% bonus is not mandatory, and can be intended for the elite, I still consider these rewards to be greatly underestimated, archaic, and inappropriate for the current dynamics of the game. I think we won't stop the momentum of training, but we can make it more enjoyable and less irritating.

Author: PanEgo

PLAYING WITH YOUR HEAD: WHAT REALLY DECIDES WINNING IN A FOOTBALL TEAM?

Hello again. In this article, I decided to analyze for you the most common mistakes made by players, such as training all skills at once and explaining what is best to train in a given position. I will also explain how training bonuses work and who gives more - an offensive midfielder or a striker. The entire article will focus on weaker players who do not understand the game that well yet.

Top 10 most common mistakes made at the beginning of the game:

1/ Not using the tasks tab, where you can currently get a lot of Energy for completing starting tasks, which - so to speak - introduces you to the game.

2/ Not being a member of a club, where we can, for example, train using club training, and we can also create many items in the manufactory thanks to a higher level of club expansion.

3/ Using items, looking at the bonus itself. When we have a complete set, i.e. cleats, socks, shorts, jersey of one national team/club, e.g. Poland, we get an additional bonus.

4/ Not using card packs and exchanging collections. When exchanging collections, in addition to Packs, Assistants, Club Points, Golden Balls or Energy, we can also unlock a slot, where we can put in any card, the skills of which will be transferred to our player.

Important: Slots are unlocked after a dozen or so collections, not after one.

5/ Not making a calendar, because a calendar is the best option for resources for people who don't spend money. If someone wants to play duels, they can choose card packs or legendary cards. If someone lacks Energy, they choose Energy.

6/ Not exchanging unnecessary boosters, i.e. boosters that we don't need, we can exchange for those we need, or exchange them for Energy or a skill. However, the option I prefer is exchanging the entire set of boosters, where we then get some Energy and 0.5 of a given skill.

7/ Not using the canteen and work. In the cafeteria we can gain some free Energy, and at work we can gain Euros in exchange for Energy.

8/ Not using drinks. Drinks are very helpful in the game, and there are many of them, starting with those that reduce working time or increase profits, going to those that increase the amount of resources obtained for selling, ending with those that reduce the cost of training or increase the amount of training performed.

9/ Spending newly acquired Credits on nonsense. On the classic server we can buy packages overall, which help a lot in development, and on the Royal or Legacy server we can save up for, for example, Set Galácticos.

10/ Training all skills. It is not worth training all skills, and why? I will talk about this in the next section.

Why is it not worth investing in all skills?

The matter is quite simple - it is not worth training all skills, because as an attacker we do not participate in defense anyway, which makes this skill unnecessary when we are an attacker. This is also true in many other cases.

What statistics actually determine victory (based on the number of trained skills of top players from the classic server)?

First of all, the skills for defenders are the same, regardless of the position they play. It is the same for forwards and midfielders, excluding defensive and offensive midfielders.

Skills worth training as:

• Goalkeeper: Reading the game, set pieces, stamina, defensive play.

• Defenders: Pressing, stamina, defensive play, set pieces.

• Defensive midfielder: Pressing, stamina, defensive play, playmaking, set pieces.

• Midfielder: Playmaking, stamina, set pieces, pressing, effectiveness.

• Offensive midfielder: Effectiveness, playmaking, stamina, set pieces, offensive play.

• Striker: Effectiveness, set pieces, stamina, offensive play.

Who has a greater impact on the match, a striker or an offensive midfielder?

As you can see in the table above, an offensive midfielder plays at 115% of their skills when in their position, which in practice means that if an offensive midfielder has 1000 Overall, they play at 1150 Overall. A striker does not have such a bonus and can play at a maximum of 100%, which means that if a striker has 1000 Overall, this overall will not increase when they are in their position.

So let's assume that there are an offensive midfielder and a striker both have 1000 Overall, but does that mean that the midfielder gives more? No. Let's take skills into account: if an offensive midfielder has skills that are not useful to him, he will contribute less. But let's assume that both have developed the most important skills. Then the midfielder gives more, unless the striker uses commitment or style of play. Then he can give an advantage to his team.

How does training really affect the daily bonus?

Daily bonus is a reward given for a given number of training sessions, which is given during the technical break and added to each skill.

As we can see in the above graphics for:

900 training + 5% to skills.

2000 training + 7% to skills.

3000 training + 12% to skills.

4500 training + 20% to skills.

7100 training + 33% to skills.

14200 training + 50% to skills.

Remember that the bonus is one-day, unless we reach the given training threshold again.

Author: Gruby Tymek

TOP 3 LEGENDS DOMINATING THE SERVER

In a world where competition is fierce and every match counts, rising to the top takes more than just skill. It demands passion, strategy, relentless practice, and the ability to perform under pressure. These elite players don’t just play the game, they define it. With unmatched stats, game-changing decisions, and a reputation that echoes through every corner of the server, they’ve earned the respect (and sometimes fear) of rivals and teammates alike.

So get ready, because we’re about to introduce you to the top 3 legends dominating the server, the ultimate game-changers who are writing their names in server history.

Hulk KST isn’t just a player, he’s a legend in motion

His journey began at KS TRZYNACHA, a club that showed early promise but ultimately couldn't survive the storm. When the team collapsed, he didn’t fall with it; instead, he rose. He joined Black Stars, and it was there that his true legend began.

In Black Stars, Hulk KST became a force of nature. He didn’t just improve; he transformed. With unmatched vision, control, and power in the midfield, he turned the tide of every game. Under his leadership, Black Stars dominated the competition, winning the SUPERLEAGUE title season after season, establishing a dynasty that struck fear across the server.

But team success wasn't enough – Hulk also shone individually. He was crowned the best midfielder, and his incredible performances earned him numerous individual awards, including the prestigious Golden Ball.

KaZu isn’t just a star

From the very beginning of his career, he has worn the Black Stars jersey with pride, never once straying from the club he calls home. In a world where players chase glory across teams, KaZu has stood out for something rarer: unshakable loyalty.

But loyalty is just part of his story. On the pitch, KaZu is a deadly striker, feared by every defense in the server. With his killer instinct, flawless positioning, and unstoppable finishing, he has earned his place as the best in his position, a true master of the attack.

His trophy shelf is legendary. KaZu has a Golden Ball, and his performances have made him King of the Server in several seasons. Every time he steps on the field, he proves why he’s at the top,not with words, but with goals, leadership, and a legacy that grows stronger with every match.

TOKSYCZNY MATEO is the wall every striker fears.

Currently holding the backline for Black Stars, he has earned his reputation as the toughest defender in the entire server. Relentless, disciplined, and fiercely committed, TOKSYCZNY MATEO is more than just a player; he’s the backbone of a team built to win.

While others rest, he trains. Every single day. His dedication is unmatched, and his presence is constant, you’ll find him in every match, every final, and behind every trophy Black Stars have lifted in their golden era. He doesn’t just defend, he commands, he leads, and he inspires.

A true warrior on the pitch, TOKSYCZNY MATEO is a key piece in Black Stars’ unstoppable machine, the kind of player who wins titles not with flashy plays, but with consistency, grit, and heart. Without him, the team wouldn’t be the same.

These three legends — Hulk KST,  KaZu, and TOKSYCZNY MATEO — are the pillars of Black Stars and the true rulers of the server. From midfield domination to lethal finishing and an unbreakable defense, they represent the perfect balance of talent, loyalty, and determination. Together, they haven’t just won titles, they’ve built a dynasty.

Author: EL PULPO

POTENTIAL FUTURE STARS 

We have just entered Season 8, and while the competition is getting tougher with every passing week, many new players have been steadily developing since the very beginning of the server. Some of them have already surpassed the impressive milestone of 35,000 OVR, showcasing their dedication and rapid progress. But today, I want to shine a light on a different group—those players who haven’t reached the very top yet, but who show remarkable potential to get there in the future.

These rising talents may not be the most powerful right now, but they possess a combination of determination, skill, and consistency that sets them apart. They undergo intensive training sessions day after day, refining their techniques and growing stronger with every challenge they face. Through hard work and persistence, they’ve managed to carve out a place for themselves among the top 100 players on the server.

Mtsa: The future of the midfield

From the very first whistle of his career, Mtsa has risen like a storm, becoming one of the most vital forces within the Furia Roja squad. A symbol of loyalty and unshakable passion, he has shared countless moments of glory with his teammates, forging a bond that goes beyond the pitch. Now towering above 6000 OVR, his progress has been nothing short of legendary. 

His training sessions have ignited the field with relentless energy, shaping him into a true midfield maestro. Dominating the assist charts in the Russian League and driving Furia Roja to the top of the table, Mtsa is on a mission to claim the golden medal. Hailed as one of the finest midfielders outside the Superleague, he’s more than a player; he’s a phenomenon. To his team members, he is simply known as Mtsa, the Czech Ronaldinho.

Blalson: The best gambler

Blalson, an experienced player in the game, has recently erupted onto the scene with unstoppable force. Once a quiet presence, he now stands tall among the elite, breaking into the Top 100 and earning a fearsome reputation as one of the most skilled gamblers in the game, stacking up multiple First Place of the Week titles like trophies in a hall of legends. 

But Blalson is more than just luck. His relentless daily training has forged him into a rising powerhouse, evolving at lightning speed. On the field, his defensive instincts are unmatched, sharp, fearless, and always first to the ball. He plays with heart, with grit, and with a hunger that sets him apart.

Kaio Bondi: one of a kind

Kaio Bondi has risen to become one of the most recognized names on the server, a true artist of the beautiful game. His journey has taken him through the ranks of legendary clubs like Karpaty Krosno and Harmandalı, where he consistently delivered top-tier performances. 

With a style marked by creativity and relentless offensive power, Kaio Bondi doesn’t just play football, he creates it. His vision, flair, and ability to unlock defenses make him a constant threat on the pitch. But behind the brilliance lies discipline: his tireless training and unwavering persistence have forged a player of rare quality. As he climbs ever higher in the rankings, few doubt that he will soon surpass some of the server's long-standing legends. Kaio Bondi is not just a rising star, he's a storm coming for the throne.

Together, Mtsa, Blalson, and Kaio Bondi represent a new generation of unstoppable talent, each with their own style, their own story, and one shared destiny: greatness. From loyalty and precision, to fearless defense and creative genius, these rising stars are reshaping football. 

Author: MAURITZ

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE THIRD WEEK OF SEASON 76

Hey! This is Kyrunio, today we're going to talk about the most interesting matches that took place in the second week of season 74. So let's get down to business.

The first match I'll be discussing today is an incredibly exciting Super League match between The Legends OW and Monster FC, played on Monday, May 19th at 8:30 PM. Both teams are known for their offensive style of play and they didn't disappoint their fans this time either.

The match started with a strong attack from the hosts. Wojdył OW opened the scoring in the 10th minute of the match. Just three minutes later, Adam76 responded with a goal for the visiting team, equalizing the score, and in the 19th minute, the hosts once again gained a goal advantage thanks to a goal by Beaujolais Nouveau after a pass from Maszu OW.

From that moment on, the hosts began to take the initiative in the match. First, Sweetkrzys69 scored a goal in the 24th minute, and four minutes later, Uki96 scored a goal for the guests. Until the end of the first half, both teams tried to break through the opponent's defense line, but to no avail. The score was 3:2.

Just a few minutes after the start of the second half, in the 48th minute, Adam76 scored again, equalizing the score of the match.

At that moment, no one was going to give up. In the 66th minute, Wojdył OW received a pass from Maszu OW and after a dynamic pass, he put the ball into the guests' net, giving the hosts the lead for the third time! Right after this goal, the guests made two changes, Matt 88 and Łukasz Ostrowski 11 KSF entered the field.

The changes brought short-term benefits. Already in the 69th minute of the match, Adam76 scored his third goal of the match, this time confidently using a penalty kick. In this way, he equalized the score of the match. After this goal, we had a temporary lull in goal scoring, both from the hosts and the guests. Pandini, Haaland and SppedY73 appeared on the pitch in place of Captain Tsubasa, Sweetkrzys69 and Darek MCU 1878. The guests also made their final change, Tonio appeared on the pitch, replacing Super Frank.

In added time, the tension reached its peak. In the 97th minute, Uki96 was shown a yellow card, after which a penalty kick was awarded to the hosts. Just a minute later, Maszu OW converted this penalty kick with a precise strike into the goal! In doing so, he decided the result of this match. This goal gave them victory with a score of 5:4, ending this incredible, difficult match full of emotions and twists and turns.

The second match I will focus on today is a match played as part of the Tournament of Champions, on Tuesday, May 20th at 8:00 p.m. The team's TeamTsubasa and Monster FC faced off.

The match started very calmly, but from the beginning it was not one of the calmest, if we look at the stakes of this match, which was advancement to the semi-finals of the Tournament of Champions. In the 27th minute of the match, Zmora crossed the ball from the left wing perfectly into the opponent's penalty area, where Versace was, who directed the ball into the opponent's net and opened the score for the hosts!

In the 43rd minute, SkoczPoFlache was selected to take a free kick for the guests. He approached, aimed and shot the ball very hard past the goalkeeper, who was surprised by the shot and could only watch the force with which the ball went into the net. We have a draw!

The first half ended in a draw, without much history. The second half had to be crucial to the outcome of this match. And so it was. In the 72nd minute of the match, Zmora again moved down the left wing, passing the defender, and Versace again became the goal scorer and secured the winning goal for the hosts! He was in the perfect position to take the shot after this cross.

The match ended with the score 2:1 for TeamTsubasa. It was an exciting match, after which they advanced to the semi-finals of the Tournament of Champions, defeating their opponents in two matches 3:2 (1:1,2:1).

That's all from me for today, I encourage you to read the articles submitted by other journalists and evaluate my article. Until next time!

Author: Kyrunio

ABOUT EVERYTHING AND NOTHING. HOW WE CAME TO THE NEW SERVER 

Good afternoon, dear readers of the magazine! It’s been a while since I last wrote here—my last article was on February 8, and even that one wasn’t printed in the glossy pages of our journal. Since then, there have been many updates and even a new server! Again! Just as we had merged and united, have already gotten along with each other, I understand the administration wants to attract new players and perhaps rekindle interest among veterans. Maybe someday this server will merge with another, too, but for now, let’s peek behind the curtain and see what’s happening there.

It's been a very long time since I've interacted with the players, and I think I've even missed them, but now there's an excuse to change that. 

I visited the new server and immediately spotted a familiar club — Иди Жалуйся Дьяволу — and interviewed a few players. First up: my journalistic "victim," Александр Харченко.

Journalist: Hi! The new server is live. How did you react when it was announced, and what made you decide to play here right away?

Александр: Hi Nika, great to hear from you again! About the server announcement—after the merger of Speed and Legacy (or was it the other way around?), I suspected a new server would open (we joked about a Turbo-Speed server). But then the Royal server was announced (beautiful announcement, I remember the “classic” server being announced.). Of course, many wanted to try it (hoping to farm credits for their main accounts), but I’ll keep my thoughts about the server to myself for now.

Journalist: Thanks, it’s nice to be remembered! Moving on—I see you’ve already created a club but tweaked the name to Go Complain to the Devil. As the captain, whose idea was that?

Александр: I created it, but not everyone’s active yet. The name came up casually— I suggested Go Complain Devil, Andrey proposed to the Devil... I agreed because my version felt more... provocative.

Journalist:  How’s starting from scratch? Tough?

Александр: Let’s just say it’s very challenging. On older servers like Speed, you’d get packs for OVR rewards (Bronze, Silver, Gold, even Platinum, I think). You could sell those on the market and trade your way up. Here, I don’t see that—the only packs I get are from training, and there are not so many of those.

Journalist:  Any goals with your team yet, or still looking around?

Александр: We are still looking around, the club is being formed, the goals are high as usual, but there are a lot of people who want to join).

Thank you, Alexander, for your time and thoughtful answers!

And my next choice fell on Gusar, on all servers he is known and he appeared on Royal as well.

Journalist: Hi! The new server has launched. Could you share how you initially reacted to its announcement and whether you immediately decided to play?

Gusar:  Hi! I reacted ambiguously, to be honest. I signed up on the last day before the opening—something just felt unexpectedly whimsical. I decided to try it out and look around!

Journalist:  How’s the fresh start? Tough?

Gusar: A bit confusing, honestly. I logged in to see what new stuff the devs added. It feels harder, maybe because there are fewer perks. But judging by the players and clubs already climbing the ranks pretty fast, it’s doable. We’ll see!

Journalist: I see you've already joined the team, and there are a lot of familiar names.

Tell me, do you already have some thoughts and ideas? Or are you still probing the ground with the guys?

Gusar: Yes, a lot of familiarity, that was the deciding factor for joining the team. Looking around for now).

Thank you to the players of the Иди жалуйся дьяволу (Go complain to the devil) for your time, I wish the team and the players personally to develop quickly, achieve their goals and get what they want from the game on Royal! May the new chapter be interesting for you and may luck be with you! 

Nika was with you, glad to be back on the pages of the Sports Journal!

Author: NIKNEST 

REFEREE CONTROVERSIES THROUGH THE EYES OF THE MANAGER #13

Hello, Kiero DS here. Due to the numerous controversial situations involving football referees, I have decided to create a new series, where I will analyze these situations step by step. This series will appear relatively regularly, along with the emerging controversies.

CONTROVERSY IN RADOM – WHY WAS KAMIL GROSICKI'S GOAL RIGHTLY NOT AWARDED?

In the 32nd round of the PKO BP Ekstraklasa, we moved to the stadium in Radom, where Radomiak Radom hosted Pogoń Szczecin. It was in this match, specifically in the 75th minute of the match, that an interesting and unusual refereeing situation occurred, which ultimately ended with VAR intervention and the cancellation of the goal scored by Kamil Grosicki. As a football referee and match analyst, I decided to look at this situation in the light of the current Laws of the Game, the VAR protocol and my experience on the pitch.

Description of the incident – ​​frame by frame:

It all started with a cross into the Radomiak penalty area. Two players jumped for the ball – the Pogoń striker with number 9 and the Radomiak defender with number 74. The defender does not reach the ball. A moment later, the striker plays a handball – the ball clearly bounces off his right hand, which allows him to control it and direct it towards his teammate. However, the ball was blocked by the Radomiak defender, it goes to his defensive colleague, who, not attacked by the opponent, kicks it out of bounds – so unfortunately that it ends up back at the feet of the Pogoń players. After a few plays, Grosicki scores a goal. The referee recognizes the goal, but after a moment he is called by VAR for a video review. The result? The goal is disallowed and play is restarted with a free kick for Radomiak.

Was there an infringement?

From a refereeing perspective, the matter is clear-cut. The rules of the game clearly state that if an attacker scores a goal directly after a handball, or indirectly as a result of gaining an advantage after such an infringement, the goal cannot be recognized - regardless of the player's intentions. In the discussed case, there is a visible movement of the hand towards the ball - the player takes control of it and allows himself to continue the action. This is a classic example of an infringement that should be punished with a direct free kick for the opponent. The decision to disallow the goal was therefore unquestionable in this respect.

The key issue - was it still the same action (APP)?

It is definitely more difficult to assess unequivocally whether VAR had the right to intervene, since Radomiak's defender took the ball and cleared it. Did this mean that Pogoń's initial action ended and Radomiak started a new one?

The VAR Handbook by IFAB comes to the rescue, where it is stated that situations such as:

• deflection, ricochet, unsuccessful clearance, 

• play after which the ball does not reach the teammate,

are not considered as taking control of the ball and starting a new APP (Attacking Possession Phase).  In this situation, the Radomiak defender was not under pressure, he had time and space to accurately clear the ball. However, his play was ineffective - it did not reach the teammate and allowed Pogoń to immediately resume the attack. Therefore, in accordance with the spirit of the game and interpretation of the rules, it should be considered that Pogoń's APP lasted continuously from the moment of playing the ball with the hand until the goal was scored.

VAR acted in accordance with the protocol:

That is why the VAR intervention was justified - despite the fact that the ball was touched by the opponent on the way. The key was that Radomiak did not gain real control of the situation. The action lasted continuously, and the goal was the result of a foul that occurred at the beginning of it. VAR therefore had not only the right, but also the obligation to intervene, because – according to the philosophy of the system – its purpose is to eliminate obvious errors leading to goals, penalties, red cards and mistakes regarding the identity of players.

Summary – the right decision and in line with the spirit of the game:

The final decision of the referee was not only in line with the regulations, but also in line with the spirit of the game – as also mentioned by IFAB. Although the situation was somewhat complex and required in-depth analysis, there is no doubt that the foul took place and the Pogoń team gained an unfair advantage from it. Kamil Grosicki's goal was rightly disallowed, and the game was restarted with a free kick for Radomiak – as it should be.

Situations like this are difficult, but they show how important it is to have a precise understanding of the Laws of the Game and practical experience on the pitch. VAR is a powerful tool – but like any tool, it requires proper application. In this case – it was used in an exemplary manner.

Thank you for reading my article! If you like this type of content or have ideas for more topics I should write about, leave your suggestions in the comments. Best regards!

Author: Kiero DS