FFM: No penalty for Bregalnica — ball hit body before arm
FFM statement dated 08.11.2026 16:32 says referees’ calls in two First League matches were correct and VAR confirmations were appropriate.
The Football Federation of Macedonia (FFM) reviewed controversial moments from today’s Macedonian First League fixtures and found the match officials’ decisions — with or without VAR — were in line with the rules.
FFM analysis of key incidents
In a statement dated 08.11.2026 16:32, the FFM said no team was disadvantaged by the referees’ calls during the Bashkimi–Bregalnica and Aresimi–Shkëndija Arachinovo matches.
Aresimi – Shkëndija Arachinovo, 65': After a corner from Aresimi, the ball struck a Shkëndija Arachinovo defender on the knee. The referee judged there were no elements of a handball and that decision was confirmed by the VAR official.
Aresimi – Shkëndija Arachinovo, 84': On a cross into the penalty area, a home-team defender blocked the ball with an arm held in an unnatural position, away from the body. The VAR official correctly called the referee for an on-field review (OFR), after which a penalty was awarded to Shkëndija Arachinovo.
Bashkimi – Bregalnica, 73': When Bregalnica scored, the referee correctly decided there was no foul on Bashkimi’s goalkeeper; contact occurred when the goalkeeper was struck by his own teammate. The goal was confirmed by VAR.
Bashkimi – Bregalnica, 79': On a cross into Bashkimi’s box, the ball first deflected off a defender’s body and then hit his arm, which was positioned behind the body in a natural posture. The referee judged there were no grounds for a penalty and the VAR official confirmed that decision.
Photo: press material from the event
