Refereeing Expert Foutghil: 'AS FAR's First Goal Correctly Awarded, Raja's Disallowed Goal Was Right'

Foutghil, a refereeing expert at the National Refereeing Directorate, confirmed the validity of the officiating decisions made during the "Clasico" match between Raja Club Athletic and AS FAR, played as part of matchday 17 of the Professional League.

Regarding AS FAR's goal, Foutghil explained that a VAR review confirmed there was no offside. He added that no clear image was available to definitively prove the ball had fully crossed the line, meaning the decision to award the goal was correct according to refereeing protocol. The match ultimately ended 2-1 in favor of AS FAR.

The refereeing expert noted that the extended duration of the review was due to the high precision required to determine the exact moment the ball was touched and the positions of the players, in addition to the necessity of checking all available angles before making a final decision.

Concerning Raja Club Athletic's disallowed goal, Foutghil affirmed that there was a clear foul, stating that the decision to disallow the goal was correct. However, he suggested it would have been better for the referee to delay his whistle and allow the attack to conclude before reviewing the incident via VAR.

Foutghil concluded by emphasizing that the controversial incidents in the match were handled correctly by the referees, clarifying that video technology confirmed the soundness of the decisions made during the encounter.