The first from our new columnist where a qualified referee runs the rule over the weekend's refereeing decisions, something that is very much in the eye at the moment after a number of controversial VAR decisions and the change in the way Premier League referee's are running the games this season.
The laws of the game are fairly simple, it is the application that is the problem and that has been made even more complex due to the fact that we now have VAR, the truth is most football fans have a grasp of the laws of the game, but with all the changes have lost a little clarity on what the actual letter of the law is and when a handball or foul is a handball or foul or not.
So we are lucky to have a new columnist, SFC Referee will give us his weekly update not just on the Saints games and their talking points in regard to the refereeing decisions, but the whole Premier League.
Anyway lets start with Saints at Crystal Palace.
Crystal Palace VS Southampton (Michael Salisbury)
VAR/the linesman did well to rightfully rule out an early goal for Palace, but no real controversy there. But I know many fans wanted the penalty, but having not seen a replay on the incident and there being very little written up about it (with all of them saying that it wasn’t intentional) suggests that there were no true handball incidents.
Brighton VS Chelsea (Andy Madley)
Nothing much in this game, thought the ref could’ve given a yellow or two more for certain incidents in the buildup to a goal or two, but overall nothing really controversial at all. So nothing to discuss for this game
Newcastle VS Aston Villa (Paul Tierney)
Bit of a clash for the keeper early in the game, but due to it being just a simple shoulder barge, and the Villa player going into the keeper with the Newcastle player having no intent to injure the keeper there is no need to give any disciplinary action.
Handball very much blatant, and as I said under the Bournemouth game, could come under intentional or unnatural positioning of the hand, so a penalty was rightfully awarded.
Fulham VS Everton (John Brooks)
Scoreline might have been boring, but this games incident of Mitrovich’s red was probably the one debatable decision of Saturday!
As for it to be classified as red it must be used with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent (with contact). But seeing how it’s got no real excessive force, it can’t be for that, and as much as it’s a late and reckless challenge, it’s not enough for a red as he’s going for the ball, is just a bit late and his foot is low, so in my view not enough for a red card there.
Liverpool VS Leeds (Michael Oliver)
Couldn’t see any major decisions from Michael Oliver (who btw is probably the best ref in the prem by far, with only Anthony Taylor being anywhere near as good!) that seemed incorrect or controversial whatsoever, so a decent display off of the officiating team for that game."
Arsenal VS Nottingham Forrest (Simon Hooper)
This game may have been one entertaining one for the neutrals, but less soo around controversy and VAR!
As all of Arsenals goals had no controversy around them, with nothing for VAR to intervene with (although a great advantage played by the ref for their 3rd) and no real complaints from ether side.
Manchester United VS West Ham (Chris Kavanagh)
Other than some slight optimistic shouts for a penalty late in the game from West Ham fans, very little happened in this game.
As with regards to the penalty shout, there’s slight contact, but with soo little force and the contact being minimal, a penalty was never going to given with or without VAR, as it just was no where near enough for a pen, hence why theres very few talking about that incident.
But other than that, a pretty basic and easy game for VAR, with very little to do again.
Weekly conclusion
Many pundits, fans, coaches etc sure do like to criticise official and VAR whenever they get the chance to, yet you see very few eve give it credit when it’s done well.
As this weekend for all these games, the most controversial decision we had was a Mitrovic tackle, which was in the orange area, but probably not enough for a red and VAR certainly shouldn’t have intervened, which it didn’t. Which does show that it’s been a very good week for the Premier League officials, yet you won’t hear many credit them for that yet many will critique officials when it’s the vice versa…
Still a good week for everyone with all the articles being around the games and players, not the officials and their decisions."