All the weekend's controversy's looked at in depth and there is a fair few talking points from the Saints V Aston Villa game on Saturday to go through and of course the usual quiz on the rules of the game.

There was certainly a fair bit to talk about last weekend around VAR and the officials decisions, with lots of decisions getting mixed responses towards them. Since then we’ve just had the FA Cup replays and a few prem games, none of which having any major controversies or decisions for VAR, but now it’s time to see if the trends continued into this weekend as well…

Southampton VS Aston Villa (Michael Salisbury)

Unfortunately due to officiating reasons, I wasn’t able to watch this game at St Mary’s, so have only managed to base this games report on what I’ve seen on the highlights and what many have told me.

But with regards to the game, this is probably the first saints game we’ve had with any VAR controversy since starting these weekly articles. Which this one did have…
So we had the early incident over our disallowed goal for Che Adams/KWP, which was fairly clear after seeing the replay, with both of them clearly offside and the goal being rightfully ruled out. The only over offside incidents we had was checking their goal, as it was close but as the replay shows he did time his run well and the goal rightfully stood.

But now we get onto the more controversial and opinionated decisions. So firstly the Villa penalty shout, which as the replays show had some contact, but due to the Villa player going down before there was any contact and being so far away from the ball with such minimal contact, shouldn’t have been a pen and one was rightfully not awarded.

And lastly the main controversy of the game, Prowsey’s ruled out goal…
As I’d just got in my car for my journey back when I got a notification that we’d scored, so turned on the radio for Solent (as when I saw it was Prowse presumed it was a free kick).
But just as I did all the VAR issues started to arise. As at first Blackmore and another pundit were just starting to look at the replay and look at what VAR was looking at. As at first they thought it was for a push by Elynousie, but then after a while saw a stamp on the back of the Villa players foot by him, so we’re discussing that. And from their reactions alone to that, knew that the goal was going to get ruled out and that there had obviously been a foul committed that may have been soft but was still unfortunately a foul, which is why they weren’t so convinced and were still debating it throughout the game.

But as soon as I got back and saw the replays saw the clip on the heel from Elynousie and unfortunately knew my gut feeling from before was right, as the decision was correct as we’d easily see it as a foul if it was vice versa and the goal shouldn’t have stood.

As I’ve seen many blame the refs and officials for this result (including NJ), but unfortunately as much as I’d like to agree, I just can’t from what I’ve seen. As I wasn’t at the game like I stated before, so can’t say about all the little niggly fouls Villa supposedly committed and whether so and so should’ve been booked etc… but from the highlights I’ve seen, all the major key decisions the officials were presented with, were correct. And as much as that may frustrate many saints fans, it’s the way it is, as we lost this game due to poor players and coaches, not officials, and yes the officials may not have been the best, but they did get all their major decisions correct.

As yeah whether you think VAR should get involved in incidents like this and whether or not big teams get away with it or not etc.. I think both sides have points on, but for how VAR currently is, unfortunately this game they got everything correct on.

TUI Viewpoint
SFC Ref is spot on with both of the disallowed goal decisions, as much as i would like to say we were hard done by, both Adams and KWP were offside and Elyounoussi did catch the back of the Villa man's ankle, I think it was accidental, but it was still a foul, so the decision was correct.

Personally I am a fan of VAR, what i am not a fan of is the time it takes to make a decision, I think sometimes you have to accept that VAR can't get everything right and put a time limit on it, accepting that it is better to get 90% of the decisions right quickly than taking a lot of time with the other 10%.

Liverpool VS Chelsea (Michael Oliver)
If you’d told people that by the halfway mark this would be a game between 9th and 10th I think many would’ve thought VAR was more likely to get all its decisions correct throughout the season than that happening! Yet that’s exactly where both teams were Saturday morning.
And just like their positions suggested it would be, this game sure was a close one, although not having too much for VAR or the officials to get involved in. As other than ruling out an early goal for Chelsea for a clear offside, there wasn’t much more for VAR to do in this game.

Bournemouth VS Nottingham Forest (Andy Madley)
This game sure was a close and important one for both teams, but had very little for VAR to get involved in. As the goals had to both be checked for offside and a Forest one ruled out for offside, but other than that this game had no real controversies or major incidents for VAR to deal with.

Leicester VS Brighton (Thomas Bramall)
This game sure was an entertaining one for the neutral with lots of twists to it at both ends of the pitch, but for VAR and the officials there wasn’t as much, but still a major decision to make.
As Brighton had a shout for a penalty when they were 2-1 down, as the Leicester player lunges into the Brighton forward missing the ball yet making clear contact on him which is why he goes down. Yet VAR didn’t see this as enough for a penalty…
Although supposedly the penalty wasn’t given due to it not being “clear enough”, but as a saints fan and what we saw happen in our game, that decision is as “clear” as our one, so really VAR should be getting involved for both incidents or nether. As really VAR should’ve certainly intervened for this incident as it was a clear penalty that Brighton weren’t given.

West Ham VS Everton (Stuart Attwell)
This game was certainly one of the biggest of the weekend and one that VAR and Attwell really needed to get spot on… and so they did! With a great advantage played by Stuart for West Ham’s second goal.
As there was no real controversies during this game, with nothing major to talk about with regards to VAR and the officials.

Crystal Palace VS Newcastle (Craig Pawson)
The scoreline pretty much sums up how much VAR had to deal with or the levels of major decisions the officials had to make. As both Newcastle and Palace had half shouts for penalties, but all of which were rightfully turned down with nothing given. So a pretty quiet yet decent game for VAR.

Leeds VS Brentford (Peter Bankes)
Again the scoreline and what VAR and the officials had to deal with were very similar, with very little to talk about fir the game in general, and even less for controversies around any refereeing decisions.

Man City VS Wolves (David Coote)
Not a close game at all for VAR or the officials to deal with, but still some controversy around some of the decisions around this game, but thankfully without any major impact on the game.
As this game started off with a major shout from Man City for a penalty for a foul on Grealish just before halftime. As the replays clearly show the defender getting nothing on the ball yet kicking Grealish in the back of the leg (although you’d think he’d been shot there for how he reacted!). Yet VAR didn’t get involved, clearly because they didn’t see it as obvious or clear enough, although most people would easily have that down as a penalty… but thankfully the decision had no major impact on the score.

Although the penalty that was given to Man City was a clear cut one and rightfully awarded by the ref and backed by VAR.
Wolves then had a shout for a penalty due to a supposed handball offence against Man City, but as the replays show the hand was clearly in a natural position and the appeals were correctly waved away.

Arsenal VS Man United (Anthony Taylor)
This game was by far the biggest of the weekend, and the one with the most armchair fans from across the globe getting ready to spam social media with all their knowledge of the LOTG when those major VAR and officiating decisions were made!
But still with a ref like Taylor in the middle (my personal favourite, especially on how he lets the game flow and realises footballs a contact sport!) it was always looking like it would be officiated well, and so it was!

As VAR had to double check all the goals, with a very close offside for arsenals 3rd goal, but with it rightfully standing. Although there was one penalty shout for Man U early in the game, for a supposed foul on Rashford just outside the box, although after seeing the replay over how little contact there was, VAR was right to not get involved as it’s not enough for a foul and certainly isn’t a clear or obvious mistake from Taylor.

Fulham VS Spurs (Paul Tierney)
Quite a close game in the end, and one where any major decisions from the ref or VAR would almost certainly have an impact on the game. But this game didn’t need any of those decisions as there wasn’t much for VAR to go over or check, with their being a few half shouts for penalties but nothing that major or serious where VAR needed to get involved. So a fairly decent game for VAR and Tierney.

Weekly conclusion + LOTG quiz
Well VAR yet again has certainly had the questions asked over what is “clear and obvious” yet again this week. As we’ve had several incidents, from our game, Man City’s and Brighton’s, which all seemed pretty clear (but maybe not 100% blatant) yet whether VAR got involved or not and what their decisions were did vary.

As since Webb took over, he’s wanted VAR to intervene a lot less, and so it has, although we’re now getting the issues around the inconsistency of when it does and doesn’t get involved, shown quite well with the incidents from this gameweek. As this is what many fans wanted (including myself) it’s just the issue we’re seeing now is the inconsistency over when they do and don’t, with it almost being down to bad luck that they did get involved in ours and overruling Prowse’s goal (which was the correct decision) and also bad luck for Man City and Brighton that VAR then decided to not get involved in their incidents, but of course quite fortunate for all these teams opponents.

As really that’s now what VAR needs to sort out or change. As ether they only get involved for the blatant incidents where nobody will argue over, or simply get involved in everything that’s major in a game, where it could be some of the least blatant and most opinionated decisions. But ether way it needs to be made clear which one they pick and they need to keep with it, as it’s things like this that are most frustrating for fans (even ones that are also referees themselves, like myself and a few others I know).
But in all fairness, overall it’s been a fairly decent week for VAR for their concluded decisions with only 2 being wrong in my view from all this gameweeks action. So an ok week for VAR and premier league officials.

And now for this game weeks questions, which like usual, I’ll post the answers to just before the next post is done…

Although if anyone’s got any “out there” questions to ask, could always use some of them for future quiz questions.

Q1= How many LOTG (laws of the game) are there, and bonuses for naming any.

Q2= A keeper goes to take a goal kick. When running up to take it, falls over and legally kicks the ball, but with very little power. An attacker just outside the box, unmarked, sees this and runs for the ball. So in response the keeper quickly gets up, picks up the ball and throws it away to a teammate. What do you award next (if anything) for a restart and disciplinary action?

Q3= How many different set pieces can you not be offside from, and can you name them
All?”

Photo: Action Images

obelisk added 12:30 - Jan 24 I'd hoped to hear something about the crazy Mara offside flag towards the end of the game. Mara broke clear onto a pass and with his pace looked capable of creating a scoring opportunity. In real time the decision looked close and TV replays showed him to be onside. Trouble is the assistant raised his flag immediately when the instructions are to wait for play to develop. We'll never know now what the outcome might have been but the assistant made a glaring a mistake.

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SFC_Referee added 14:57 - Jan 24 Well u less you’ve got a replay of that incident obelisk then unfortunately I can’t say too much on it. But yeah the AR’s are meant to delay their flags until the any promising attack or such is over, and then flag for it (unless the outcome for the defending team is better anyway) but if what your sayings correct then yeah the linesman messed up as the only time their meant to flag early is when their is nothing promising about the attack or if the AR is 100% certain (which they can’t be if it’s wrong)

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saint901 added 09:26 - Jan 25 I think for me the main issue with the alleged "stamp" (which implies a deliberate rather than an accidental act) was the interview comments from the Villa player afterwards. He said that he felt contact and that in his view "it was enough to go down". So he made a decision to try to con the ref - and it worked. As for your questions: 1. Don't know 2. Keeper is red carded (denying goal scoring opportunity) and indirect free kick where he picked the ball up. 3. Corner, throw in, goal kick(?) ball from opposing player who meant to play it.

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