Refereeing

CHELSEA felt aggrieved when Axel Disasi’s stoppage-time winner was disallowed in the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.But I was baffled why VAR got involved because it wasn’t a clear and obvious error.VAR intervened to overrule Craig Pawson’s decision at Villa Park on SaturdayCredit: GettyEx-Premier League referee Mark Halsey feels Pawson needs to be more decisive during games to minimise the role of VARCredit: Getty Images – GettyChelsea thought they had scored a last minute winner through Axel Disasi but saw VAR intervene and the goal ruled outCredit: EPAPawson went to the monitor and disallowed the goal but Halsey felt he had a good enough view of the incident to blow for a free kick straight awayCredit: AFPReferee Craig Pawson had a great view of the incident, he was looking directly at both players and allowed play to continue.If Pawson thought it was a foul by Benoit Badiashile on Diego Carlos then why didn’t he award a free-kick straight away? I felt it was a foul but Pawson had to give it in real time and then there wouldn’t have been a fuss afterwards.My big problem with this incident is it’s a classic case of technology re-refereeing a game and not what VAR is there for.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLVAR official Chris Kavanagh recommended an on-field review and Pawson changed his mind. I’ve watched Pawson for a long time and he does not seem to make the big decisions and uses VAR as a back-up.Although we got the right decision, the process of how we got there is not how we should be operating VAR in the Premier League.Chelsea stars protested madly at the end of their 2-2 draw with Aston Villa and had to be pushed away from Pawson by the Blues coaching staff.Most read in FootballBadiashile and Madueke were fuming with the referee and linesmen following the final whistle and had to be restrained by coaches.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSChelsea’s penalty chaosMAURICIO POCHETTINO has been tearing his hair out watching Chelsea’s stars fight over penalties again and again. Here are all their spot kick lowlights

CHELSEA 2-2 ARSENAL (23rd October, 2023)GOAL Raheem Sterling immediately picks up the ball to take Chelsea’s spot kick before Cole Palmer approaches. Enzo Fernandez intervenes to give the ball to Palmer, who sends David Raya the wrong way to score.
CHELSEA 4 LEICESTER CITY 2 (17th March, 2024)MISS Raheem Sterling wins a penalty and this time is handed the ball by Palmer. However, he fires it down the middle and sees his kick comfortably saved. Leicester later recover to 2-2 from 2-0 down and Sterling is booed every time he touches the ball by a section of the home crowd.
CHELSEA 4 MANCHESTER UNITED 3 (4th April, 2024)GOAL Noni Madueke makes an audacious attempt to take the ball off Palmer after winning a 98th minute penalty with the Blues 3-2 down but is pulled away by Trevoh Chalobah. Palmer sends Andre Onana the wrong way before scoring a winner two minutes later.
CHELSEA 6 EVERTON 0 (15th April, 2024)GOAL Madueke picks up the ball immediately after Chelsea are awarded a penalty at 4-0 up, but a furious Nicolas Jackson rushes in wanting to take the kick and shoves the winger. Captain Conor Gallagher has to intervene to give the ball to Palmer, who scores. Pochettino blasts his team’s behaviour as “like being at school”.

Madueke was evidently still fuming with the decision when probed by the BBC post-match.He said: “Should it have been three points? Yes.”Mauricio Pochettino claims VAR has ‘damaged’ five things in scathing rant after ref changes mind over late Chelsea goalMadueke, 22, added: “Do I think the goal should have stood? Yes. Nothing else to say about the situation.”Manager Mauricio Pochettino also bemoaned the intervention of VAR after the game, saying: “Well VAR changed the decision of the referee.”That was for me a normal challenge that can happen in normal action.”That damaged a little bit the Premier League and its image.”It’s damaged myself, damaged my team, damaged my players, my fans, damaged football.” More

TOTTENHAM were awarded a penalty against Arsenal by VAR after Michael Oliver missed a “kick in the balls”.The referee initially waved play on before penalising Declan Rice for a foul on Ben Davies.Michael Oliver awarded a penalty to Tottenham after a brief VAR reviewCredit: Premier LeagueThe spot-kick was only given following the intervention of VARCredit: Premier LeagueHowever, with the Spurs defender left rolling around in agony, he was quickly sent to the monitor to review the incident.Oliver pointed to the spot after a matter of seconds having seen the incident again.Davies had beaten Rice to the ball as he attempted to clear it from inside the Arsenal penalty area.As a result, the midfielder’s follow through upended Davies and left the Welshman in pain.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLGary Neville had immediately called for a penalty on commentary after the contact, with fans shocked Oliver missed the foul at first.Reacting on social media, one supporter wrote: “The fact Michael Oliver needed VAR for that, is brazy. Rice almost kicked his balls.”Another added: “Michael Oliver didn’t see Rice kick somebody straight in the plumbs from three yards away!!!”A third fan also commented: “Michael Oliver is about five feet from that Rice foul and doesn’t give the penalty.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSMeanwhile, one more said: “He’s five yards away and he can’t see Rice kick him in the balls? They can’t keep relying on VAR.”Son Heung-min stepped up from 12 yards to dispatch the resulting penalty and set up a tense finish in North London.Eight times Arsenal and Tottenham’s North London rivalry got pettySpurs had trailed 3-0 at half-time before mounting a second half comeback.The penalty reduced the deficit to 3-2 after Cristian Romero had earlier capitalised on a mistake from David Raya.However, despite late pressure from the hosts, Arsenal held on to secure a narrow derby victory.The result sees Mikel Arteta’s side move four points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table.City could cut the gap back down to one by beating Nottingham Forest this afternoon, though. More

MAURICIO POCHETTINO slammed VAR for damaging SEVEN aspects of football.The Chelsea manager, 52, was left furious on Saturday evening when his side had two goals against Aston Villa chalked off by the video assistant referee at Stockley Park. Mauricio Pochettino was furious with referee Craig Pawson for ruling out a late Chelsea winner at Aston VillaCredit: PAThe Argentine let rip during his Match of the Day interviewCredit: BBCBenoit Badiashile was penalised for bundling into Diego CarlosCredit: BBCFirstly, Nicolas Jackson was just offside before racing through and finishing into the back of the net.Then deep into injury-time, Axel Disasi thought he had completed a memorable turnaround from 2-0 down to seal a stunning 3-2 victory.The header sparked incredible scenes between the Chelsea players and fans.But VAR Chris Kavanagh told referee Craig Pawson to go over to the pitchside monitor to watch the replays.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAnd the official decided Benoit Badiashile had fouled Diego Carlos at the back post by pushing him in the back during the corner routine that led to Disasi’s header. Pochettino, though, was livid with the controversial call – and believes VAR is wrecking multiple different aspects of the beautiful game.The under-pressure Argentine – whose side are ninth – fumed on Match of the Day: “Well VAR changed the decision of the referee.”That was for me a normal challenge that can happen in normal action. Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”That damaged a little bit the Premier League and its image. “It’s damaged myself, damaged my team, damaged my players, my fans, damaged football.”Chelsea’s top summer transfer targetsChelsea players were seething when Pawson blew the full-time whistle, immediately racing to confront him.Disasi, Badiashile, Marc Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah, Moises Caicedo and Noni Madueke all made their way to the referee to make their angry feelings clear.Badiashile and Madueke were both booked for their protests as Chelsea coaches had to calm them down and drag them away – before Pochettino walked over to remonstrate with the officials.Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Ian Wright discussed the incident in the Match of the Day studio – and were left frustrated with VAR’s intervention. Shearer said: “When they give the foul and there’s not enough to overturn it, well it’s the opposite on this one.Our beautiful game is broken, says Dave KiddBy Dave Kidd
WHEN Manchester United got lucky in their FA Cup semi-final, Antony’s first instinct was to goad heartbroken opponents Coventry. To rub their noses in the dirt.
Antony seems to be a vile individual but this isn’t really about Antony. Because Antony is merely a symptom of the hideous sickness within England’s top flight.
There is so much wrong.
After our elite clubs persuaded the FA to completely scrap Cup replays — which gave us Ronnie Radford and Ricky Villa and Ryan Giggs — without due recompense or reasoning with the rest of English football.
The previous day, after his Manchester City side had defeated Chelsea in the other FA Cup semi-final, Pep Guardiola whinged about the fixture scheduling of TV companies who effectively pay much of his £20m salary.
Up at Wolves, Guardiola’s friend and rival Mikel Arteta was playing the same sad song about fixture congestion, despite his Arsenal side having played two fewer games this season than Coventry — who don’t have £50m squad players to rotate with.
Chelsea, oh Chelsea. The one-time plaything of a Russian oligarch now owned by financially incontinent venture capitalists who have piddled £1billion on a squad of players who fight like weasels in a sack about who should bask in the personal glory of scoring the penalty that puts them 5-0 up against Everton.
Read Dave Kidd’s full column as he takes aim at Nottingham Forest, Fulham’s ticket prices, the 39th game, VAR and much more…

“I think the defender knows what he is doing. He sticks his arm out and then he’s backing into him [Badiashile].”Once the referee gives that [the goal], I’m not 100 per cent certain, is that an absolute howler?”Lineker answered with an emphatic “no” and suggested it was “six of one and half a dozen of the other” from Badiashile and Carlos.Wright added: “I think he’s probably given it because of how aggressive Badiashile looks when he’s going for him. READ MORE SUN STORIES”They’ve lowered the bar again, they do what they want. “Let’s get rid of it! Let’s get rid of it.”Badiashile and Noni Madueke were booked after the full-time whistleCredit: GettyAxel Disasi produced a superb diving header deep into injury-timeCredit: EPADisasi’s header sparked wild scenes in the away endCredit: AFPPawson watched replays of the incident on the pitchside monitorCredit: AFPThe ref confirmed he was ruling the goal outCredit: ReutersThe decision was displayed on the big screen to the delight of the home fansCredit: Reuters More