Major League Soccer (MLS) began using the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to review the following “high leverage” situations on Saturday, August 5: Goals, penalty kicks, straight red cards and mistaken identity.
The VAR was put to the test for the first time in MLS history during the 79th minute of the Philadelphia Union vs FC Dallas match, in which referee Ricardo Salazar order a video review of an apparent goal scored by Dallas forward Maximiliano Urruti.
Video Assistant Referee Hilario “Chico” Grajeda correctly nullified the goal after he determined that Dallas forward Cristian Colman had kicked Philadelphia goalkeeper John McCarthy in the groin.
The video clip below of the play in question is from the Philadelphia Union regional telecast on Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, with J.P. DellaCamera and Tommy Smyth commentating:
