The Committee for Referees and Refereeing of the NS/FS BiH has published clarifications of the most important decisions of the refereeing teams from the 11th round of WWIN League BiH matches, including the situations that caused the most discussions among fans and experts.
The Committee for Referees and Refereeing of the NS/FS of BiH below provides explanations of important refereeing decisions in the matches of the 11th round WWIN league BiH 2025/26.
FK Radnik – FK Sarajevo
In the 30th minute of the match, the player with number 28 made a movement with his hand towards the ball and made contact between his hand and the ball, thereby consciously directing the ball towards the goal.
After that touch, his teammate gets to the ball and scores a goal. We consider that the said contact between the ball and the hand was very difficult to see from the perspective of the referee and the assistant refereebearing in mind their position at the moment of the situation.
The VAR intervention in this case was completely justified, and after the OFR (on-field review), the referee correctly made the decision to cancel the goal scored by the visiting team.
In 45+1. minute of the match, the assistant referee, who was in an excellent position, correctly assessed the situation and signaled the hinterland. It is a very small difference, but the decision was correct. The subsequent VAR check confirmed the correct application of the VAR protocol, and in the end it was correct goal canceled for the home team.
In the 63rd minute, in a situation that did not present a promising goal-scoring attack (SPA), there is a careless foul on the ground by player number 8, who then falls, thus preventing him from continuing the action.
We believe that it was not about unsportsmanlike behavior of the defender with number 16that is, about the obvious disrespect of the opponent, which should be sanctioned with another warning. The referee of the match assessed that the situation did not have enough elements or intensity to award a second yellow card, and that it was not an obvious situation.
Taking into account all the circumstances and the arrangement of the players, it can be concluded that the referee acted correctly – not every intentional offense is punishable by a disciplinary measure.
In the 64th minute of the match, the referee makes the decision assault offense. Although he was well positioned, he did not have a good viewing angle as there were several players between him and the venue, which limited his visibility.
He awarded a foul for the defense, however, after reviewing the situation through the OFR, it was determined that it was the defender with number 11 committed a foul on the attacker with number 29. After VAR’s intervention, the correct final decision was made – penalty kick (penalty) for the home team.
In the 82nd minute of the match, the players of the visiting team signaled a possible handball by the home player. However, on the available recordings it is not possible to clearly determine the position of the hand or possible contact with the ball.
Based on the available material, it cannot be confirmed with certainty that there was obvious sleight of hand. At the moment of action, the player goes to the ball with his head and body, while his hands are down by his body and in a natural position.
Even if there was contact, the same probably happened after the ball was playedand in this case it is not considered that a referee error was made.
NK Široki Brijeg – FK Rudar Prijedor
In the 5th minute of the match, there was physical contact inside the penalty area of the home team between the attackers of the visitors and the defenders of the home team. The head judge was well positioned, following the situation from close range and did not take disciplinary action, he already correctly awarded a corner kick for the visiting team.
It is clearly visible on the video that there was a slight and permissible contact between two players in a battle for the ball and position, without foul elements. Correct decision of the referee.
FK Sloga – HSK Zrinjski
In the 40th minute of the match, after the start of the player with number 28 from the FK Sloga team over the opposing player HŠK Zrinjski, the head referee he awarded a violation and issued a warning (yellow card) to the offender. After that, the referee was called for an OFR review (on-field review), but after re-examining the situation, he stuck to his original decision.
Taking into account the valid criteria and interpretations of UEFA, it can be concluded that it was about no sharp start allowedbut at the exclusion limit.
At the moment of the intervention, the player first reached the ball, and then came into contact with the opponent, in the protected part of the leg, after which the game continued smoothly. Considering all the circumstances and assessment of the intensity of the start, the referee’s decision to issue a yellow card can be upheld as correct.
FK Željezničar – HSK Posušje
In the 11th minute of the match, the referee allowed the game to continue, considering that it was not of sufficient intensity for a violation. However, taking into account all the elements of the situation, it is clear that the referee made a mistakebecause he had to award an obvious foul in favor of the visiting team.
In the aforementioned situation, the defender prevented the opponent from an obvious opportunity to score a goal (DOGSO), and it is the referee should have awarded a foul and sent off the defender (red card).
FK Borac – FK Velež
In the 43rd minute of the match, the referee, well positioned and with a good overview of the situation, followed the events after the break and annulled the scored goal due to an alleged foul by the attacker on the visiting defender.
However, the analysis of the situation found that no offense was committed and there was no unsportsmanlike conduct by the attacker.
The referee stopped the action before the goal was scored, so in accordance with the VAR protocol, the situation could not be verified or corrected. It is an obvious mistake of the chief judge, who should have waited for the end of the action before making a decision.
Having in mind the seriousness of the allegations that have arisen, as well as the need to preserve the integrity of the trial and the public’s trust in the work of the Committee, the decision was made that the chief judge Elvedin Topuzović temporarily suspended until further notice, i.e. until the end of the internal analysis and determination of all relevant facts.
Committee on Judges and Judging will continue to act in accordance with regulations and principles of transparency, responsibility and professionalism, with the aim of protecting the reputation of the judging organization and the competition itself.
Has Posušje been “forsaken” again? Look at the disputed situation
(www.jabuka.tv)
