Referee Watch With SFC Ref 7th November Monday, 7th Nov 2022 08:57 Our expert in black takes a look at the refereeing decisions in the Premier League over the weekend, see if you agree with him on the controversial points that happened across the games, starting of course with Saints. Southampton v Newcastle (Stuart Attwell) Game started off with an unfortunate, but decent, advantage played by the ref for Newcastle’s opener, for the clear foul in the build-up to the goal. Other than that though, an easy and decent performance from the officials with nothing much for VAR to get involved in. Although one thing I did fail to mention is that I do think that Elynousie should’ve been given a cautioning for unsporting behaviour by somehow missing that open goal in the first half! As it doesn’t matter who we get in to replace Ralph, as unless we start putting away chances like that, we’ll be going down for a fact! But other than that, nothing for VAR to get involved in, with all goals rightfully standing and a decent performance from the officials. But anyway, so with regards to the first thing VAR was needed for, Man City’s goal was rightfully ruled out for a blatant offside, so no debate there. But now for more the debatable decisions, for Fulham’s penalty and Cancelo’s red card. As I personally see it as the correct decision under the LOTG, although I hear many fans say that it should’ve just been a cautioning, but that just doesn’t work. Man City then had another goal ruled out for offside, but as the replays show, Hallandale is clearly offside so the goal was rightfully ruled out. But anyway with regards to the other big VAR decision of the game, Man City’s penalty, I do think VAR messed up there! Nott'm Forest v Brentford (Andre Marriner) Still to start it off, the first penalty appeal from Forest. As yes there is some slight contact, but soo little force and minimal connection that it shouldn’t be a penalty and was rightfully not given. Although I see this incident being very similar to the Man City penalty, with their being contact, but no where near enough contact or force for it to rightfully be given, hence why nether should have, yet one was and one was not... The second penalty appeal from Forest, there is an arm sticking out, it’s just does that arm create enough force to warrant a foul and therefore a penalty? As this is where it can be hard for officials, even with VAR, as it’s all down to the levels of force used, but seeing how there doesn’t seem to be anything too excessive and certainly nothing clear or obvious, I do think that a penalty shouldn’t have been given, and VAR was right to not intervene with this decision. And the supposed 3rd penalty appeal (although after seeing the replays I wouldn’t call it a realistic appeal) for Forest, is a blatant dive and should’ve really been a cautioning for the Forest player for simulation. As the attacker is clearly trying to cause the contact and is going down before any contact is even created, so is blatant simulation and a ball at the yellow that should’ve been given. The Brentford penalty was certainly an interesting one though, and pretty much single handedly caused all the controversy of the game in itself! As it had just as much contact as the Man City and Forests first penalty shout did (if not less), yet this one was given, like the Man City one, yet Forest‘s first one was not… As I personally think all 3 of the debatable decisions, should have been a play on/no penalty, as all 3 had no real force or enough contact to cause an adult football player to fall to the ground and seriously expect a penalty. And if one should’ve been given than all 3 should have, as well as the Man City one, whilst if one wasn’t given then none should’ve been given. So I do think that VAR did mess up for the penalty to Brentford, as well as many acts of simulation from many Forest players that went unpunished. So not such a great game for VAR or the officials at the City Stadium. Wolves v Brighton (Graham Scott) With regards to Wolves’s penalty, I’d say VAR got that one right as it’s a fairly clear incident. As the Brighton defender has his arm clearly sticking out and makes clear contact with the ball, so as it’s sticking out in an unnatural position (which goals against the three things a handball can be given for, intent, unnatural position or scoring directly with/after hitting the arm) and makes clear contact a penalty was rightfully given. This game sure did have a few interesting decisions though! As next up there was a red card shown to Semedo. As like I’ve previously said with the Cancelo incident for the Man City game, as Semedo has no intent to play the ball and commits a DOGSO offence, it’s a straight red card, although as it was outside the box (aka a free kick will be given and not a penalty) the intent is irrelevant as they are always straight reds for DOGSO’s outside the box. Overall though I think there were a few iffy decisions here and there, but all the major and important decisions were rightfully given the correct restart and VAR/Graham did decent throughout the game. As there was an early shout for handball from Leicester for a supposed handball, yet due to the the hands of Everton player being in a natural position by his side, and him having no time to react so clearly not being intentional, a penalty shouldn’t have been given which both VAR and the ref rightfully didn’t give. But other than that, there was nothing else for VAR or the ref to get involved in, and was a decent game from Coote getting all the major decisions correct and playing some decent advantages and letting the game flow like a decent ref would. Chelsea v Arsenal (Michael Oliver) Just another decent game for Oliver, who, as I’ve previously said, is probably the best referee in the prem right now, A decent start to the game for Ant, with a good advantage played for Villa’s opener, and a blatant free kick given against Man U for villas second goal (although not enough for a DOGSO and red for Shaw seeing how there were defenders also back and covering him even if the foul hadn’t been committed). This game did have some interesting incidents though for VAR to look at with the little clash of Mings and Ronaldo, both clearly grabbing and grappling one another to the ground. But seeing how they’ve both just grabbing and pulling one another, with no proper punches or kicks, for a fairly calm game until then, their was no need for any reds for violent conduct, and both getting a yellow for aggressive attitudes was enough for the incident. But one unfortunate mistake from Taylor was him getting in the way for a very promising attack for Villa, and having to give a dropped ball due to it hitting him (as a an uncontested dropped ball must always be given when the ball hits the ref and it ether changes possession for teams or the team in possession is on the attack). As all 3 of the goals scored in this game were all fair and correct it’s just the question for this game and VAR was should West Ham of had their penalty overturned or kept? As was the supposed pull on Antonio enough for him to go down and a penalty to be awarded? As we’ve had many decisions this week where we’ve discussed the levels of force and what should or shouldn’t be allowed. Yet this one I do think was one of the more blatant ones with their being that little contact that VAR was very much in the rights to get the ref to review the incident on the monitor, and overturn the penalty (although how Antonio managed to get away without a booking I’m quite surprised by!). But still a decent game for VAR and the officials, getting involved when they should be and concluding with the correct decisions, and no real VAR issues. But there was some discussions to be had with this game, as Spurs had an early penalty should that Tierney denied and VAR didn’t overrule, which I personally see as the correct decision. As yeah there is a slight nudge, but both players are side to side, and the force behind that push you can quite clearly see as being minimal, and the main thing that sells it for me is that you can see the spurs player is going down before Trent’s arm fully extends out, which shows that he was falling over (aka looking for it) as soon as he felt the contact, showing that it’s not the force of the push that’s making him fall but simply him looking for it, which is certainly not enough for a penalty to be awarded, especially with refs supposedly letting the game be more physical this season. Other than that though, nothing much more to be discussed, although really the ref should’ve shown Conte a second yellow for dissent when he went over to caution him for hitting the ball outta a Liverpool coaches hand, as you can clearly see him getting aggressive and disrespectful to Madley, yet he gets away with it (but anyone who’s spoken to high level officials will know that they’re told to officiate games differently in certain areas (especially dissent),than what the laws suggest). Although I will say that I do see many love to criticise officials when making these incorrect decisions (although those decisions can also be correct yet some will still find a way to criticise them!). Yet like these penalty incidents have shown, if players didn’t go down soo easily and dive soo often it would be a lot easier for officials to show consistency with their decisions and less debates over the levels of force. Hence why I personally think that simulation should be a straight red card offence (with maybe a shorter suspension of maybe just that game), as simulation can lead to opponents being unrightfully sent off and lead to goals being scored and denied which can affect results just like a handball on the like can etc. So why shouldn’t simulation be treated like a foul of that level? But still, overall a varied week for VAR, with certainly a few debatable decisions as well as a bit of inconsistency, yet still many correct decisions and games with the officials getting all the major decisions right and doing their job as they should be doing it. Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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