Football Australia Admits VAR Error in Western United’s 

Head Referee Jon Moss acknowledges penalty oversight in Round 4 clash, sparking debate over VAR’s role in critical A-League moments.

Football Australia has acknowledged an officiating “error of judgement” that denied Western United a penalty in their recent Round 4 Isuzu UTE A-League match against Adelaide United. Head of Referees Jon Moss confirmed that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) mistakenly allowed play to continue following a contentious challenge by Adelaide defender Ryan Kitto on Western United forward Abel Walatee. The match concluded with Adelaide securing a narrow 2-1 victory, extending their unbeaten season start, but the non-penalty call has since raised questions over VAR’s reliability in the league.

The pivotal incident occurred inside the Adelaide box at Coopers Stadium with the score tied 1-1. Kitto’s challenge on Walatee led many to anticipate a penalty call, yet no foul was given on the field, and VAR chose not to intervene. Adelaide ultimately clinched the game with Zach Clough’s second-half goal proving decisive.

In a Monday statement, Moss revealed his assessment of the missed call, acknowledging that VAR had reviewed several angles but erroneously concluded that no significant contact had been made by Kitto. “This is an error in judgement by the Video Assistant Referee and the incident should have been reviewed and ultimately, a penalty awarded,” he said.

Football Australia also noted that it has since communicated directly with Western United FC about the incident, delivering feedback to match officials. VAR’s oversight in this situation contrasts with its otherwise strong record, as Moss pointed out: in the season’s first four rounds, VAR interventions have corrected ten key decisions. The league has been pioneering live referee communication to fans, both in-stadium and on broadcast, as part of this transparency push.

The misjudgment adds to an ongoing debate around VAR’s role and efficacy in the A-League, especially in close, season-defining moments. For Western United, the acknowledgment offers validation but no points, leaving fans to wonder how different the outcome might have been had the penalty been awarded.

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