VAR has impact on its Hong Kong Premier League debut as Sham Shui Po are denied goal
- Video assistant referee system, freshly introduced in the city, prompts match officials to disallow first-half goal that would have given Sham Shui Po a 2-1 lead
- North District gain upper hand in second half to record their first win in the top division
VAR took centre stage in its first application in the BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League on Sunday, when the technology ruled out a goal that would have given Sham Shui Po the lead over Crownity North District, who went on to win 4-1.
Sham Shui Po’s Chang Kwong-yin had the ball in the net at the 15-minute mark, but, following a review through the video assistant referee (VAR) system – newly introduced in the city’s top flight – the officials disallowed the goal. They found that Sham Shui Po player Leung Sing-yiu had been offside leading up to the shot.
Matheus Silva’s header had given top-flight newcomers North District the lead in the fourth minute at Sham Shui Po Sports Ground, only for his effort to be cancelled out by Nicholas Medeiros six minutes later.
The VAR reprieve ensured that the teams reached half-time with the score still level, before North District cut loose in the second half through goals by substitutes Wong Wai-kwok, who hit a brace, and former Sham Shui Po player Lo Kong-wai.
North District boss Leung Chi-wing, who was Kitchee’s assistant coach when they won last season’s title, said VAR had an impact on the teams’ mindsets even if it was impossible to say it was decisive.
“[A disallowed goal] always happens, but this time it was made through the video system,” he said. “There are always different decisions made in a match, and as long as they are fair, it is fine.
