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      Afcon 2023 star celebrates on bench as he scores goal AFTER being substituted in never-before-seen moment

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      YOUSSEF EN-NESYRI celebrated his goal against Tanzania in bizarre fashion as he had already been substituted.The Sevilla star bagged Morocco’s third in their Afcon clash against the 10-man East Africans at the Stade de San Pedro in the Ivory Coast.
      Youssef En-Nesyri scored for MoroccoCredit: AP
      His goal was not given until after he was substitutedCredit: Sky Sports
      En-Nesyri, 26, fired home after a brilliant ball from Achraf Hakimi found him open in the Tanzania box.
      However, it appeared that the goal was going to be ruled offside as VAR announced the goal was being checked.
      During the break, the striker was one of three players to be taken off by manager Walid Regragui.
      En-Nesyri, Hakim Ziyech and Azzedine Ounahi were all replaced by Ayoub El Kaabi, Sofiane Boufal and Amine Harit.
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      The striker managed to come off the pitch and sit down before VAR had reached its decision.
      After a long wait, the goal was finally awarded after he had been substituted.
      The Moroccan’s team-mates all jumped to celebrate with him on the bench.
      Fans were shocked on social media as one commented: “Is that a first? The VAR review for a goal by Morocco’s En-Nesyri took so long that he was subbed off before it was awarded and celebrated sat on the bench…”
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      Morocco are running away with the game 😮‍💨After a lengthy VAR check, Youssef En-Nesyri goal stands to make it 3️⃣-0️⃣! pic.twitter.com/L4BTGNNKGn— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 17, 2024

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      A second wrote: “En-Nesyri celebrated his goal on the bench haha.”
      A third added: “En-Nesyri first player to score while on the bench.”
      Morocco won the tie 3-0 as En-Nesryi’s goal was the last of the major action.
      Romain Saiss had given his side the lead in the 30th minute before Novatus Miroshi was sent off for Tanzania in the second half.
      Ounahi scored just seven minutes after the dismissal before En-Nesryi wrapped up the win.
      The win puts Morocco top of Group E ahead of Zambia and Niger. More

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      Audio of Martin Odegaard’s handball against Liverpool is released as Howard Webb reveals referee got decision WRONG

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      HOWARD WEBB has revealed Liverpool SHOULD have been awarded a penalty in their 1-1 draw with Arsenal last month.The former Premier League referee gave his thought on the incident after releasing the VAR audio in the latest instalment of Match Officials Mic’d Up.
      VAR audio from Martin Odegaard’s handball against Liverpool has been releasedCredit: Premier League
      PGMOL chief Howard Webb talks through VAR’s decision to not award Liverpool a penalty for a possible handball against Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard 👇 pic.twitter.com/xAOm6o4xLM— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 16, 2024

      Liverpool were denied a penalty by referee Chris Kavanagh during the match at Anfield on December 23.
      Mohamed Salah had attempted to flick the ball round Martin Odegaard when the ball hit the Arsenal captain’s arm.
      However, a VAR review into the incident confirmed Kavanagh’s on-field decision.
      The audio from the decision shows Kavanagh saying: “No, his hand’s on the floor. His hand’s on the floor,” as the Liverpool players appealed for penalty.
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      Assistant VAR Lee Betts can then be heard during the review saying: “Yeah, from the brief look I’ve seen, yeah, agreed, yeah, yeah.”
      VAR David Coote then confirms the decision, explaining: “For me, Lee, I’m back with live. So, he’s falling down, he’s moving his arms in towards him, so it’s check complete for me.”
      Webb and former Liverpool striker Michael Owen disagreed with that analysis on Match Officials Mic’d Up, though.
      Ex-Red Owen admitted: “I thought it was a penalty,” before Webb explained his views on the decision.
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      “So do I,” the PGMOL chief responded. “The referee on the field recognised that Odegaard had slipped and saw his arm go towards the ground. 
      “We talk about ‘supporting arms’. If somebody falls, breaks their fall with the arm, it’s all very natural and a pretty well-established concept. In this situation. though, there’s an important difference to a normal play that’s falling.
      “This is not just Odegaard accidentally falling on to the ball. He does slip, his arm does go out, but he actually pulls his arm back in towards his body, which is when the ball makes contact with the arm.
      “The VAR looked at that aspect. He felt it was a case of Odegaard trying to make himself actually smaller by bringing the arm back towards the body. That is the element that’s important here.
      “Whether it’s instinctive or deliberate, he gets a huge advantage by bringing the arm back towards the ball. All the feedback we got afterwards was very clear. The game expects a penalty in this situation. I would agree.”
      Webb argued that the red card for Fulham’s Raul Jimenez at Newcastle and penalty awarded – also on review – for Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski’s “sustained” tug on Brighton striker Danny Welbeck, were correct interventions.
      Howard Webb revealed referee Chris Kavanagh should have given a penaltyCredit: Premier League
      He also backed Manchester City’s crucial penalty in the win at Everton, where the Toffees argued Amadou Onana was too close to the Nathan Ake shot to be penalised.
      But more surprisingly perhaps, the former World Cup final whistler said VAR Michael Salisbury was justified in allowing Luton’s last-gasp leveller at Turf Moor to stand.
      Burnley were furious, convinced that Elijah Adebayo had fouled keeper James Trafford before Carlton Morris headed home.
      But ref Tony Harrington’s initial view that Trafford has instigated the contact was eventually backed by Salisbury’s belief it was “not a clear and obvious error”.
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      Webb said: “I can understand why Burnley would expect a free-kick but I’ve spoken to a whole host of people who don’t see it that way.
      “VAR was brought in to rectify very clear situations. This was a grey one, not black and white. It split opinions so the VAR came out in the right place.” More

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      Ex-referee wants controversial rule scrapped before more Premier League players get hurt

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      MARK HALSEY has called for the delayed offside flag to be scrapped to avoid more serious injuries.Ederson limped off with a leg injury after the Manchester City keeper collided with Sean Longstaff as the Brazilian tried to prevent the Newcastle midfielder from converting Alexander Isak’s cross.
      Mark Halsey has urged the Premier League to scrap delayed offside flagsCredit: PA
      Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson was injured before an offside flag went upCredit: Rex
      The goal was ruled out by VAR due to an earlier offside in the build-up at St James’ Park on Saturday.
      It is the second time City boss Pep Guardiola has lost a star due to injury in a similar situation after John Stones was forced off at his former club Everton last month.
      SunSport’s referee expert Halsey says the use of the offside flag needs to be looked at with an urgent review of the VAR protocol to protect players.
      The former Prem ref said: “The safety of players is paramount to the game.
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      “This directive about holding the flag needs reassessing because too many players are getting injured. I would change it.
      “It’s happened twice for City, firstly with John Stones and now with Ederson.
      “Football is an entertainment  business and fans want to see the best players on the pitch. Some of the best players are missing matches for injuries that are needless and avoidable.”
      Assistant referees have been told to keep their flag down — even if they think there is an offside — until the passage of play is complete.
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      Only once a goal is scored or the chance has gone will the assistant then  raise their flag to confirm the initial offence.
      That is so if a goal is scored then VAR can review the offside call.
      But Halsey, who started his career as an assistant referee, believes more responsibility needs to be given to officials on the field.
      He explained: “I’m all for letting the game flow — but officials need to show common sense.
      “If it’s a clear offside and the player is 40 yards from goal then the assistant referee should just automatically flag if they believe the player is offside.
      Ederson collided with Sean Longstaff as he tried to prevent a disallowed goalCredit: Rex
      “If the ball is in or around the penalty box then you don’t flag because you won’t get a serious injury with players bearing down on goal. There’s no risk for the keeper or defenders chasing back in that situation.
      “I understand why the protocol was introduced because everyone in football doesn’t want goals to be ruled out for tight offsides.
      “But these situations are not about a toenail being offside, they are yards offside. Assistant refs just need to award the offside.
      “It’s about understanding football and I can understand managers’ frustrations for this needless holding of the flag when there’s a clear offside so far up the pitch.” More

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      ‘Thank God there was no VAR’ – Chelsea escape penalty after ‘reckless’ Disasi forces Boro star off in FIRST MINUTE

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      CHELSEA fans rejoiced there was no VAR as they escaped an early penalty scare at Middlesbrough.There was less than a minute on the clock in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg when the Blues were almost made to pay for Levi Colwill’s error.
      Axel Disasi slid in on Emmanuel Latte Lath in the opening minute at the RiversideCredit: Getty
      There was debate as to whether the Chelsea man won the ball or notCredit: Reuters
      Replays showed the impact of the tackle on Latte LathCredit: Sky Sports
      His loose touch enabled Emmanuel Latte Lath to race into the box with the ball.
      And as he got his tame shot away, Axel Disasi came flying across with a reckless sliding tackle – just hours after Mauricio Pochettino told his players to be more aggressive.
      Disasi got none of the ball and clattered into the Boro striker, who needed treatment and limped off a few minutes later, replaced by butcher’s son Josh Coburn.
      But Chelsea supporters watching the clash at the Riverside on TV were relieved to see the referee not give the spot kick.
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      And due to their opponents being in the Championship, there is no VAR for the Carabao Cup semis to “maintain fairness”.
      Therefore, there was no one at Stockley Park to tell the official to watch a replay on a pitchside monitor and overturn his decision.
      One fan said: “Thank God there was no VAR.”
      Another wrote: “Reckless challenge tbh.”
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      A third added: “Second replay showed that Disasi did not get the ball, but actually tackled Latte Lath.”
      A fourth joked: “Referees forgetting to blow their whistle because they are too used to VAR doing their jobs now.”
      And a final user quipped: “Fair play to Chelsea, they know the referees are useless enough on their own so as soon as there’s no VAR they’re fouling everyone.”
      However, not everyone was in agreement that the last-ditch tackle by Disasi was a foul.
      One replied: “It was never a pen.”
      And another agreed: “Fans crying for a penalty – it was never a penalty and VAR wouldn’t have helped overturn that decision.”
      Middlesbrough gaffer Michael Carrick – who was already without 12 players through injury before kick-off – could not believe his luck when Alex Bangura also had to be substituted inside 20 minutes, taking the tally to 14 crocked men.
      Cole Palmer missed a gilt-edged chance to fire Chelsea in front but grabbed his low shot wide.
      And Boro fans forgot about their penalty appeals ten minutes before the break when Hayden Hackney tucked in the opener, sparking bedlam at the Riverside.
      Palmer put another simple effort over and saw a third well saved by Tom Glover.
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      And those misses proved crucial as Boro held on for a 1-0 win to take to Stamford Bridge in a fortnight’s time.
      Latte Lath tried to carry on but had to be substituted offCredit: Alamy More

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      Everton handed huge boost in Premier League relegation battle as Calvert-Lewin’s ‘disgraceful’ red card is overturned

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      EVERTON have been handed a major boost in their Premier League survival bid with Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s “disgraceful” red card being overturned.The Toffees striker, 26, was controversially sent off in Thursday’s drab 0-0 FA Cup third-round tie away at Crystal Palace.
      Dominic Calvert-Lewin has seen his red card rescindedCredit: Getty
      The Toffees striker was sent off in the FA Cup clash at Crystal PalaceCredit: PA

      Calvert-Lewin slid in and claimed the ball before catching Nathaniel Clyne with minimal contact on the shin.
      And after play was initially waved on with no foul given, referee Chris Kavanagh was sent to the pitchside monitor by VAR Craig Pawson and subsequently brandished the red – to the shock of the Everton players, manager Sean Dyche and virtually everyone watching.
      The sending off warranted a three-match ban, another big blow for 17th-placed Toffees who have already been docked ten points this season for breaching FFP rules and are now one point above the drop zone having played a game more than Luton.
      However, Everton launched an appeal to the FA to get the first red card of Calvert-Lewin’s career wiped.
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      They were particularly keen to know how Kavanagh’s original decision was deemed a ‘clear and obvious error’.
      But now the FA have confirmed common sense prevailed as the red card was rescinded.
      And that means Calvert-Lewin will be available for selection for Everton’s Premier League games against Aston Villa at home on Sunday and away at Fulham on January 30, as well as the Palace replay next Wednesday.
      The FA said: “Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be available for Everton’s next three games following a successful claim of wrongful dismissal.
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      “The striker was sent off for serious foul play in the Emirates FA Cup game against Crystal Palace on Thursday, January 4 2024.”
      Calvert-Lewin looked genuinely bemused to be given his marching orders after Kavanagh was shown slow-mo replays on the screen.
      And even opposition defender Joachim Andersen appeared to tell him “it’s not a red” as he shook hands with the England international.
      Dyche – whose ten men held on for the goalless stalemate to force a replay – insisted he remained a “fan” of VAR but it was “beginning to test my patience”.
      Toffees hero Peter Reid tweeted: “I’ve lost the will to live, game’s gone.”
      And fans watching the drama unfold from home also raged at the decision.
      ‘ABSOLUTE JOKE’
      One said: “No physical contact at all. Goodness, what is going on.”
      A second wrote: “Disgraceful decision by a terrible ref.”
      And a third added: “An absolute joke. The beautiful game is finished RIP FOOTBALL.”
      And ex-Premier League ref Mark Halsey told SunSport: “None of the players on either side reacted to the challenge.
      “I do not understand why VAR Craig Pawson recommended a pitchside review and I’m surprised Kavanagh did not stick with his original decision.
      “You can argue it was ‘reckless’ and worthy of a caution but it did not meet the criteria for ‘serious foul play’.
      “It did not ‘endanger the safety of an opponent with excessive force or brutality’.
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      “Those challenges happen all the time and the slo-mo replays always make them appear worse than they are.”
      The winners of the replay at Goodison Park next week will play Luton or Bolton at home in the FA Cup fourth round on the last weekend of January.
      Ref Chris Kavanagh waved play on but was sent to the pitchside monitorCredit: Getty
      The red card would have seen the forward miss three matchesCredit: PA More

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      Why is VAR not in use for Carabao Cup semi-final matches?

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      THE first legs of the Carabao Cup semi-finals will take place this week.Ties will see Middlesbrough host Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea at the Riverside Stadium while Fulham travel to Anfield to face Liverpool.
      Manchester United claimed the Carabao Cup last seasonCredit: PA
      Jurgen Klopp’s men are favourites to win the trophy and extend their record amount of EFL Cups to ten.
      Championship side Middlesbrough will be hoping to prove doubters wrong by producing an upset against Premier League Chelsea and book their place in the Carabao Cup final.
      Boro’s last major trophy was the 2004 Carling Cup when Gareth Southgate was captain.
      Five-time winners Chelsea will be hoping to end their nine-year wait for an EFL trophy.
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      Fulham have never won a major trophy in their 145-year history with the closest they’ve come was under Roy Hodgson in 2010 reaching the Europa League final.
      In recent years, VAR has been heavily used in the competition.
      However, in this season’s Carabao Cup semi-final ties, VAR will not be in use – and SunSport has the reason why.
      Why is VAR not in use for Carabao Cup semi-final matches?
      VAR will not be available in Carabao Cup semi-final matches due to Middlesbrough not having the necessary technology at their Riverside Stadium.
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      The other semi-final tie between Liverpool and Fulham will not be played with VAR as well.
      Fans have been left bemused by the decision due to Anfield and Craven Cottage both being available to have the technology in use.
      A decision was made not to use the technology in order to “maintain fairness and consistency” within the cup competition.
      What have the EFL said about no VAR in Carabao Cup semi-final matches?
      A spokesperson for the EFL said: “There will be no VAR used in the semi-finals because it was not possible for the technology to be used at Middlesbrough.
      “It was decided it was fairer to not use it in any of the four semi-final games as a result.
      “The FA took a different approach (with the FA Cup) but we felt this was the way to go.
      “If it couldn’t be used in one of the games, it won’t be used in any of the four semi-final legs.
      “However, VAR will be used for the final regardless of who is playing in it as the technology is already installed at Wembley.” More

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      Carabao Cup confirm major rule change to ‘maintain fairness’ in semi-finals as fans want same rule in FA Cup

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      VAR will not be used in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, it has been confirmed.The technology is not used at any stage of the competition before the semi-finals because it is only installed at Premier League stadiums.
      VAR will not be in use in the Carabao Cup semi-finalsCredit: Getty
      Since VAR became a regular feature in 2019, it has been utilised by the final four teams across two legs.
      However, it has been scrapped for the semi-finals this year to “maintain fairness”.
      Championship side Middlesbrough do not have VAR installed at the Riverside Stadium, so the EFL have deemed it unfair to use the technology at other games.
      Boro face Chelsea at home on Tuesday, while Liverpool host Fulham at Anfield.
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      Different rules are used in the FA Cup, meaning select games in every round have access to VAR.
      Many fans believe this is unfair and that the rules should be the same in both competitions.
      Reacting to the change in this year’s Carabao Cup, one person tweeted: “There should never have been VAR for any Carabao or FA Cup games. That is what would maintain fairness.
      “If you can’t implement it at all grounds or matches, don’t utilise it at all!”
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      Another wrote: “Managers, players and fans will be happy with this decision, which is a sad but accurate indictment of VAR.”
      A third added: “Fairness would be having it in no rounds at all. Not randomly bringing it in at the semi final stage.”
      While a fourth questioned: “Why don’t they do this in the FA Cup then?”
      The two semi-final winners will meet in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, February 25. More

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      Referee forced to contact VAR room by MOBILE PHONE to confirm goal mid-game after bizarre tech issue

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      VAR issues during a Serie A match forced officials to confirm a goal via mobile phone.Referee Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi briefly interrupted Frosinone’s clash with Monza for an unknown reason, an interval which allowed players to rehydrate.
      The Serie A match between Frosinone and Monza was blighted by VAR communication issuesCredit: Rex
      Referee Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi had to halt the match in the first half due to the VAR dramaCredit: REX
      She awarded Monza their second goal of the match after the fourth official received a phone call from VAR officialsCredit: Rex
      Play resumed after a few minutes, although many were left wondering the reason for the impromptu stoppage.
      It soon became apparent the issue was VAR-related after Monza doubled their lead in the 45th minute.
      A problem in the VAR room initially prevented the use of slow-motion replay.
      The on-the-field officials were also unable to communicate with their VAR counterparts – meaning one of the VAR team had to ring the fourth official and tell the ref that the goal was fine.
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      The technical problems continued in the second half of the match.
      So much so that the stadium announcer went on the tannoy to announce that they were operating without any VAR.
      The issue was eventually resolved and the announcer promptly informed fans that the technology was once again back in use.
      Monza ran out 3-2 winners at the Stadio Benito Stirpe to further Frosinone’s relegation fears.
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      Monza rant out 3-2 winners against relegration battlers FrosinoneCredit: REX
      Strikes from Dany Mota, Valentin Carboni and an own goal by Matias Soule saw the Biancorossi pick up all three points.
      Frosinone are now only five points clear of the drop zone, although they have played a game more than 19th and 20th-placed Empoli and Salernitana.
      Monza will be back in action next Saturday, welcoming table toppers Inter Milan to the Brianteo Stadium.
      Frosinone, meanwhile, travel to the Allianz Stadium on Thursday to take on Juventus in the quarter-final of the Coppa Italia. More