MANCHESTER UNITED drew with Chelsea on Saturday — mainly thanks to Harry Maguire getting away with a choke hold that wrestler Hulk Hogan would be proud of.
Referees had another weekend to forget and VAR made matters worse.
Harry Maguire got up close and personal with Cesar AzpilicuetaCredit: AFP or Licensors
We take a look at the three big calls that had fans raging:
REF CHOKED ON HARRY HOLD
HARRY MAGUIRE’S grapple with Cesar Azpilicueta during Manchester United’s game against Chelsea was a clear penalty.
It was like a strangle hold on one of those old wrestling shows.
A referee always tries to get in the best possible position for the ultimate viewing angle but Martin Atkinson has not seen it.
I would have thought VAR would have recommended a review.
In my opinion it is a clear and obvious error. That’s why we have VAR.
Stuart Attwell was the VAR official. Had he asked Atkinson to go over and check, he would have awarded a penalty.
Hulk Hogan might have been proud of Maguire’s moveCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The statement from the PGMOL and the Premier League was that it was not a clear and obvious error.
I am bemused by that statement.
VAR is simple for me. The IFAB protocol is: was that incident a clear and obvious error? One word, in capital letters. YES.
DEAN DECISION WAS FAB
There’ll be no need to drop MikeCredit: AFP or licensors
DURING the first half of Liverpool’s win over Sheffield United, Mike Dean initially awarded a free-kick for Fabinho’s challenge on Ollie McBurnie.
It was a subjective call by Dean, and because it was close VAR checked it and informed him the challenge was made on the line of the penalty area, which is classed as inside the area — that is fact.
So, there was no need to go over to the monitor and Dean could award the penalty.
That’s how you want VAR to be used.
HAMMERS WENT GAR GAR
Eric Garcia appeared to bring down Michail Antonio in the boxCredit: Getty Images – Getty
MICHAIL ANTONIO should have been awarded a penalty when he was taken down by Eric Garcia.
The Manchester City man went in for the challenge with the wrong leg and made contact with the West Ham player before he got the ball.
Man City got away with one there.
Once again, if VAR official Peter Bankes had asked referee Anthony Taylor to view the monitor, he would have awarded the penalty.
We are seeing so many inconsistencies with VAR.
What disturbs me is that we are yet to see a ref show mental toughness to stick with his original decision after going to the monitor. They always overturn their own call.
It is obvious officials need more leadership, training and education.
Frank Lampard says he was ‘just waiting for the red card’ after late Lo Celso tackle on César Azpilicueta which VAR deemed ‘no serious foul play’
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
