Refereeing

MARCEL SABITZER somehow avoided a red card for a horror studs-up tackle into Wout Faes’ knee.And Graeme Souness accused the on-loan Manchester United midfielder of DELIBERATELY trying to hurt his opponent in the X-rated challenge.
Marcel Sabitzer escaped a red card for this tackle on Wout FaesCredit: Sky Sports
The on-loan midfielder went into the knee with his studsCredit: Sky Sports
Faes was fortunate to avoid serious injuryCredit: Sky Sports

Faes and Sabitzer battled for the ball on the edge of the Leicester penalty area in the 41st minute at Old Trafford.
The big-haired Belgian got there first and kicked it away.
And with the ball already gone, Austrian Sabitzer arrived late and turned his body to stick a full set of studs into Faes’ knee.
Faes needed treatment from the Foxes physios but was thankfully not seriously hurt and able to carry on.
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Referee Stuart Attwell gave a free-kick to the visitors but inexplicably did not show a card.
And during the stoppage, VAR Paul Tierney looked at the replays but decided against intervening.
Souness said on Sky Sports: “I think this is red for several reasons. He’s on his heels when it breaks to him.
“He’s turned side on to him – if you’re gonna do someone that’s what you do – go side on.
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“He’s looking for the player.”
After being told the VAR officials looked at the incident but felt no further action was needed, Souness added: “I don’t care what ref who’s never played the game has to say.
“If that’s not dangerous I don’t know what is.”
Ex-United defender Gary Neville thought the challenge warranted a yellow card because Sabitzer did not follow through or go in with lots of force.
But viewers watching on at home were left in disbelief that the 28-year-old Bayern Munich man was allowed to continue on the pitch and were convinced the shocking tackle was worthy of a red card.
‘TERRIBLE’
One said: “What is the actual point of VAR when this is not given a red card? Absolutely terrible from the referee and the VAR.”
Another wrote: “Old Trafford luck saving Sabitzer from a clear red card.”
A third added: “You can file that Sabitzer foul under the ‘Granit Xhaka gets sent off for that’ catalogue.”
And a final user commented: “How Sabitzer was sent off for this I will never understand.”
Leicester’s frustration only grew further immediately after midfielder Papy Mendy was booked early in the second half for a clean sliding tackle on Marcus Rashford, who had put the Red Devils in front on 25 minutes.
And United got the break with VAR yet again at Old Trafford when Rashford made it 2-0.
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The goal was initially chalked off when the assistant’s flag went up and replays appeared to show he was just offside – only for the green line to appear and award the goal.
Sub Jadon Sancho made it 3-0 on the hour mark as the 11 men of United ran rampant. More

MARK CLATTENBURG has slammed VAR and claims it is making referees worse.The ex-Premier League referee revealed the introduction of VAR almost made him quit officiating.
Mark Clattenburg claims VAR is making refs fearful to make decisionsCredit: Getty
PGMOL chief Howard Webb called a meeting with refs this week to address the problems with VARCredit: Getty
He believes it made him more hesitant to make on-field decisions, and more reliant on VAR.
Clattenburg claims Prem refs are fearful of making an incorrect decision and having it overturned – but that leads to VAR not intervening at all, as happened when the ball struck Tomas Soucek’s hand in West Ham’s draw with Chelsea last weekend.
Clattenburg, 47, explained the issue to old William Hill and Footy Accumulators’ podcast, No Tippy Tappy Football, saying: “VAR has caused a big problem.
“It happened to me when I went to China, I started not refereeing, and I actually relied on the VAR. For the first month I felt like I was going to quit.
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“I thought, what am I doing? I’ve lost my core ability to make a decision. As a referee you make split second decisions and I was so comfortable at doing it.
“I’d made lots of decisions in the Premier League and I didn’t need VAR – well I could’ve needed it sometimes, but not to the amount that they’re using it now.
“When I see these referees now week in, week out, there is a fear, and they’re scared to make a decision. The problem is when you’re scared to make a decision you don’t make one, and then the VAR doesn’t make one either.
“If we look at the West Ham decision against Chelsea on Saturday [Tomas Soucek’s handball]… Because the referee doesn’t give it, the VAR then goes ‘I don’t want to give it because he’s breaking his fall’, so it compounds the mistake.
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“If the referee just gave the penalty as he should have seen it and had the courage to blow, the VAR would’ve supported it. So, we have still got all of these problems with the referees not making the original decisions like we did in our time and that’s the difference.”
VAR has come under a lot of scrutiny in recent weeks with the Premier League forced to apologise to Brighton and Arsenal after mistakes potentially cost them points last weekend.
PGMOL chief Howard Webb called an emergency meeting to try and solve the problems while John Brooks was taken off VAR duty this week after incorrectly ruling a goal offside in Crystal Palace’s draw with Brighton. More

ARSENAL fans raged after a VAR blunder referee was appointed for their crunch clash with Aston Villa.The Gunners were left fuming on Saturday when Lee Mason failed to spot two offsides in the build-up to Brentford’s equaliser at the Emirates.
John Brooks will be fourth official when Aston Villa host ArsenalCredit: Getty
That goal saw Arsenal drop points for the fifth time this season.
But their anger only worsened when John Brooks was revealed as the fourth official for Saturday’s trip to Villa Park.
Like Mason, Brooks was at the centre of controversy when he was the VAR that disallowed Brighton a legitimate goal against Crystal Palace because the offside lines were drawn on the wrong defender.
Brooks – who reached the Premier League as an assistant before dropping back down the pyramid to do the same as a referee – was brought off VAR duties for the Merseyside derby and Arsenal’s home showdown with Manchester City this week.
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Now, barring a freak injury to Simon Hooper or either of the assistants, Brooks’ role this weekend will be limited to off-field matters including overseeing substitutes – and dealing with Mikel Arteta on the sideline.
Some Arsenal supporters, though, were unhappy Brooks was brought back into action so soon – while others felt the reaction to his mistake has been exaggerated.
One fan said: “Dropped this weekend and then will be back. Same ole carousel of rubbish.”
Another wrote: “Those precious two points dropped could cause Arsenal the league. He should be suspended or completely banned from VAR.”
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And a third added: “Well hopefully he knows how to operate the subs board and doesn’t put up the wrong numbers.”
But another user commented: “That’s amazing… massive mistake on Saturday, dropped for a game on Monday and Wednesday but back to work Saturday… this punishment seems a bit over the top.”
One of the Premier League’s – and the world’s – best officials is in charge when Arsenal host City tomorrow, with Anthony Taylor the man in the middle for the top-of-the-table contest.
But Arteta is still reeling from the decision against Brentford.
The Spaniard said: “I will only be satisfied if they give me the two points back which is not going to be the case.
“I appreciate what I think were really sincere, open and genuine apologies and explanations which is really good.
“But it doesn’t change the fact that we have two points less on the table.
“Everybody makes mistakes, and we are part of that, the first one being myself. But that was something else.
“I wasn’t having it, the club weren’t having it and I think it’s clear the consequences of what happened.
“It’s not for me to judge. It’s not about someone making a mistake and then let’s crucify him.
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“It’s trying to do the best that we can together to have a fairer sport and make the decisions clearer and better.
“Hopefully that will help because of what happened last weekend.” More

THE Premier League has admitted they made a VAR blunder in the game between Crystal Palace and Brighton. Brighton were denied an opening in the match after Pervis Estupinan was deemed to be offside.
VAR came under fire for its offside call in the game between Crystal Palace and BrightonCredit: Youtube Sky Sports
Upon closer inspection, the lines drawn were from the wrong playerCredit: Twitter @BBCMOTD
Arsenal saw a similar call go against themCredit: Sky Sports
However, closer inspection of the lines drawn by VAR shows the line used to indicate the defender was drawn from the WRONG player.
A similar call was made during Arsenal’s clash against Brentford as the Bees’ goal was allowed to stand despite an apparent offside.
Referee body PGMOL released a statement apologising to both Brighton and Arsenal about the respective incidents.
It read: “PGMOL can confirm its Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb has contacted both Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion to acknowledge and explain the significant errors in the VAR process in their respective Premier League fixtures on Saturday.
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“Both incidents, which were due to human error and related to the analysis of offside situations, are being thoroughly reviewed by PGMOL.”
Brighton went on to draw the game 1-1 as Solly March saw his goal cancelled out by James Tomkins within minutes of scoring.
Ex-Prem ref Peter Walton revealed transparency in decision-making was now being championed under Webb’s guidance.
That came after Tomas Soucek appeared to handle the ball in the penalty area against Chelsea, with the Blues not given a penalty for it.
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Arsenal were also denied victory against Brentford after Ivan Toney’s late equaliser.
But the occasion has been marred as Brentford condemned racist abuse aimed towards Toney on Instagram after the game. More