VAR

SOMETHING is not right with our officials at the moment.Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts’ first-half challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta was a clear red card for serious foul play.Jean-Philippe Mateta was kicked in the head by Liam Roberts in Palace’s FA Cup clash with MillwallCredit: REXReferee Michael Oliver sensationally needed VAR to give Roberts his marching ordersCredit: GETTYOliver eventually sent Roberts off after seeing the replayCredit: REXThe Crystal Palace striker was kicked in the head and it was an obvious instance of endangering a player’s safety with excessive force and/or brutality.Yet, referee Michael Oliver did not even show a yellow card. We had to wait for VAR to intervene and recommend a review.Even then, it took more than TWO MINUTES for a decision to be made.READ MORE ON MATETA3It seems that the officials on the pitch are relying too much on VAR at the moment —  for me, that is not refereeing.I can only conclude that Michael did not realise at the time just how dangerous the challenge was. He has been our best referee but he seems to be lacking in confidence at the moment.And that happens with players AND referees.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSJean-Phillipe Mateta is thankfully recovering from the horror tackleCredit: REUTERSHis incorrect red card for Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly at Wolves in January was rightly overturned.At Selhurst Park yesterday,  a three-man VAR team led by Nick Hopton — who is not a Premier League referee — made sure that the correct decision was made in the end.’Endangered his life’ – Crystal Palace owner gives Mateta injury update live on BBC and slams ‘reckless’ Millwall starBut why did it take them so long? Even in real time, that was a clear red card.It reminded me of the challenge by West Germany goalkeeper Harald Schumacher that left Patrick Battiston of France badly hurt in the 1982 World Cup.What on earth was the Millwall goalkeeper thinking, rushing out like that?Players have a duty of care towards their fellow professionals, and Mateta’s safety was certainly endangered.Palace chairman Steve Parish rightly didn’t mince his words on the tackle, saying: “That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I’ve ever seen. Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish condemned the tackle live on the BBCCredit: BBC”And he needs to have a long, hard look at himself that lad. “Because he’s endangering a fellow professional, maybe even his life, with a challenge like that.it’s a dreadful challenge and why the referee needs to go the screen, I’ve no idea. READ MORE SUN STORIES”Forget about him being a football player, he is a human being. That is not a normal challenge. “If you’re kicking someone in the head with the full force, God knows what damage has been done to him.” More

TOENAIL offsides are set to be eradicated in a proposed shake-up of football laws.Arsene Wenger and refs’ chief David Elleray are behind the rule change to be discussed by the International FA Board today.A new shake-up to get rid of toenail offsides is set to be introducedCredit: GettyPlenty of very tight goals have been chalked off by marginal offsidesCredit: YouTube / The Emirates FA CupIt would see the offside line determined by the upper torso of attacking and defending players. SunSport revealed in 2020 how former Arsenal boss Wenger, now Fifa’s head of global football development, was pushing for a ‘daylight’ rule.That would mean players are deemed onside if any part of their body overlapped the last defender.But Wenger and other Ifab chiefs agree such a system would balance offside calls too far in favour of the attacking side.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAnd trials for this new upper torso law have taken place over the past five years.The new idea will make offside calls easy to be determined — whether it is in the Prem or on park pitches.And it is likely to be endorsed at today’s meeting in Belfast, where video reviews and editing the six-second goalkeeper limit are also on the agenda.SunSport has been told Ifab is ready to endorse formal trials from as soon as next season.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAnd a new offside law could potentially be introduced within three years.The development comes as Semi-Automated Offside Technology was used in English football for the first time in Aston Villa’s FA Cup tie with Cardiff last night. Fans left stunned at worst VAR offside line in history as they joke ‘absolutely NOT rigged’ – but all is not as it seemsIt incorporates 30 special high-speed cameras and will be introduced for the last nine weeks of the Prem season.Ifab members will today also bring in-stadium referee announcements of VAR decisions into law.Offsides could be judged on the upper torso to make it easier to determineCredit: BBCSemi-Automated Offside Technology is now being tested in EnglandCredit: UefaIn-stadium referee announcements of VAR decisions are also coming into the lawbookCredit: Sky Sports More

FOOTBALL lawmakers are considering a huge rule change which could have a major impact on time-wasting goalkeepers.As things stand, under the current iteration of the laws, goalkeepers are permitted to hold the ball in their hands for six seconds.Major changes could come in regarding how long goalkeepers can hold the ball for – and the punishment for breaching itCredit: GettyReferees may have to count down the final five seconds on their handCredit: AlamyIn reality, though, the rule is very rarely – if ever – enforced.In many matches, goalkeepers will often be seen holding the ball for 20 seconds or even longer – especially to wind down the clock towards the end.There are two reasons why the six-second rule is hardly pulled up on.Firstly, after six seconds, goalkeepers are often still surrounded by opposition players – especially at set pieces.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAnd secondly, the punishment of an indirect free-kick in the penalty area seemed disproportionate to the crime. Now, though, plans are “progressing positively” towards a shake-up of the legislation.In the new version of the rule, the length of time a goalkeeper can hold the ball in his hands would increase from six seconds to eight seconds.There would also be the introduction of a five-second countdown on the referee’s hand to signal publicly how long the goalkeeper has left to release the ball. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAnd the final edit would be surrounding the sanctions.The indirect free-kick inside the area would be scrapped.How Man Utd could clinch a win in Fulham FA Cup clash – Expert’s best bets | Weekend WagerInstead, the possibility of a throw-in or a corner to the opposition team is being discussed. A trial is taking place this season in the Premier League 2 with the eight-second rule and corners awarded, with another trial in Malta.And the feedback to Ifab – the International Football Association Board, who oversee the laws of football – is said to be positive.A change to the rules is unlikely to come into effect for the 2025-26 season.So it is expected there will be another season of trials with the suggestion it could come in for 2026-27.TOE NO-GO IN OFFSIDE REJIGEXCLUSIVE by MARTIN LIPTONTOENAIL offsides are set to be eradicated in a proposed shake-up of football laws.Arsene Wenger and refs’ chief David Elleray are behind the rule change to be discussed by the International FA Board today.It would see the offside line determined by the upper torso of attacking and defending players. SunSport revealed in 2020 how former Arsenal boss Wenger, now Fifa’s head of global football development, was pushing for a ‘daylight’ rule, meaning players would be deemed onside if any part of their body overlapped the last defender.Trials have taken place over the past five years, with Wenger and other Ifab chiefs agreeing such a system would balance offside calls too far in favour of the attacking side.The new idea, likely to be endorsed at today’s meeting in Belfast, will make offside calls easy to be determined — whether it is in the Prem or on park pitches.SunSport has been told Ifab is ready to endorse formal trials from as soon as next season, with potentially a new offside law introduced within three years.The development comes as Semi-Automated Offside Technology was used in English football for the first time in Aston Villa’s FA Cup tie with Cardiff last night. It incorporates 30 special high-speed cameras and will be introduced for the last nine weeks of the Prem season.Ifab members will today also bring in-stadium referee announcements of VAR decisions into law.JUST NOT ON… OR OFFIfab will meet in Belfast on Saturday for their annual general meeting – with video support systems and updates to the offside rule also on the agenda.Video support enables coaches to challenge referee decisions – similar to tennis or cricket – and the referee can then watch the video back of their decision and uphold the original or overrule their call. The format, designed for competitions that do not have the capabilities for VAR, has been tested in Fifa’s Women’s Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups.The offside rule update could give greater advantage to attacking players.READ MORE SUN STORIESArsene Wenger – Fifa’s chief of global football development – had advocated the ‘daylight’ rule, which has been trialled in U18s football in Italy, but that is understood to give too much advantage to attackers because it requires any part of the attacker’s body being level with the second-last defender.Instead, a new concept looking at the upper torso is set to be introduced, SunSport revealed. Another update to the offside law could also come into force with the ‘daylight’ ruleCredit: Getty More

PANATHINAIKOS ace Daniel Mancini may have committed the biggest blunder of the year, and ended his team’s title hopes.Mancini, 28, and his team-mates visited bottom-of-the-league Lamia on Sunday in a match where the Greek giants needed the three points to maintain pressure on bitter rivals Olympiacos at the top.Panathinaikos ace Daniel Mancini may have committed the biggest gaffe of the yearCredit: RexMancini thought the ball went out for a throw-in against LamiaBut it was still in play as it never went over the line so Gustavo Furtado chased after itThe Panathinaikos ace Mancini kicked another ball onto the pitchAs per a rather unknown rule, that led to a penalty for Lamia who sealed a 3-1 winRui Vitoria’s side endured a horrendous start that saw them conceding after just four minutes by ex-Reading and Aston Villa ace Aaron Tshibola.Panathinaikos equalised on 72 minutes with Filip Djuricic but Lamia fought back and regained the lead just six minutes later with Gustavo Furtado, who used to play for the visitors.The Athens outfit pushed hard for another equaliser but disaster struck three minutes before full-time.Ex-Grimsby Town ace Sebastian Ring tried to find Furtado with a through ball.Read More on FootballMancini, who was playing out of position at right-back thought the ball went out for a free throw.But Ring signalled towards Furtado that the ball was surprisingly still in play as it never went over the line, while the Panathinaikos ace was getting ready for the throw-in the referee never awarded.Furtado gained possession and broke into the box with his marker completely oblivious to what was happening.The Lamia star tried to beat goalkeeper Bartlomiej Drągowski from a tight angle but the Poland international denied him.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSHowever, Mancini’s woes were about to become much worse as, for some reason, he decided to kick another ball into play before Furtado’s shot.Referee Angelos Evangelou stopped the match and awarded the hosts a penalty, as per the rules, before booking the winger.EFL goalkeeper concedes ‘most embarrassing goal ever seen’ as fans fume ‘get him off that pitch now’ Furtado took spot kick and beat Dragowski to seal only Lamia’s second win of the season.The rules state that if another ball or object is thrown onto the pitch by another player then the referee awards a set piece for the opposing team at the spot where it landed.Because the ball was thrown inside the Panathinaikos area, where the action was taking place, the ref awarded a penalty.Two years ago, Valencia got away with a similar piece of ‘s***housery’ against Real Madrid.As Vinicius Jr approached the hosts’ penalty area, a defender kicked a second ball against the one he was dribbling with before the Brazilian could enter the box.Furtado enjoyed quite the redemption as he was offloaded by Panathinaikos last year after going viral in a clip showing him chasing after the B team’s bus, which forgot about him and almost left him behind.PAO are now third in the table with eight points separating them from the top. More

VAR was CORRECT to overturn Everton’s controversial late penalty against Manchester United.The Toffees were denied a chance to win the clash in the dying moments at Goodison Park.Everton were denied a late penalty against Manchester UnitedCredit: TNT SportsAndy Madley had initially given a penalty but was sent to the screenCredit: GettyAfter a second look, he decided to change the decisionCredit: GettyThe review centred on the challenge from Harry Maguire as that was what Madley gave the penalty forCredit: RexDavid Moyes’ side had thrown away a two-goal lead in the second half against the Red Devils.But they believed they had the opportunity to claim three points after Ashley Young went down in the Man Utd box in injury time.The former Red Devil fell theatrically after contact with Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt, with the Dutchman grabbing his shirt.But Referee Andy Madley pointed the spot as he judged MAGUIRE to have fouled the full-back.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThis decision was checked by VAR Matt Donohue.Maguire had placed a hand on Young’s hip but there was no obvious tug or pull to cause Young’s fall, meaning VAR believed it was a clear and obvious error to award the penalty. Madley was called to the monitor to look at the incident involving Maguire and changed his decision. Everton fans were up in arms that the penalty was overturned despite De Ligt clearly having a hold of Young’s shirt, but while the VAR did review that, he decided there was not enough to give a penalty.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThat’s because the penalty wasn’t originally given against De Ligt and therefore it couldn’t be deemed a clear and obvious error. It’s the same as if the referee had waved play on – the threshold wouldn’t have been high enough to overturn the decision and give a penalty for the Dutchman’s shirt pull. However if Madley had given the penalty due to De Ligt’s actions, then there would have been no intervention from VAR.In that scenario it would not have been a clear and obvious error because De Ligt did grab Young’s shirt. Ruben Amorim admits Man Utd were invisible in first half at Everton The threshold for this kind of decision has been risen this season.Donohue decided that the holding of Young’s shirt was “fleeting” and not enough to cause him to fall in his exaggerated manner.Therefore, Madley was shown angles of the Maguire incident and decided to rescind his original decision of a penalty.He would have seen the two shirt pulls by De Ligt as he was shown a “high behind” camera angle.The Premier League addressed the situation at full-time with a statement on social media.It read: “VAR checked the referee’s call of penalty to Everton for a challenge by Maguire on Young and deemed that no foul had been committed and recommended an on-field review.”The referee overturned the original decision and play restarted with an indirect free-kick.”Meanwhile, the Red Devils were slammed by their performance by club legend Rio Ferdinand.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe retired defender insisted that he had never seen the club play that badly before.Sir Alex Ferguson was also in attendance and looked disgusted at the team’s first-half efforts.Man Utd ratings vs EvertonMANCHESTER UNITED fought back from two goals down to draw against Everton at Goodison ParkThe Red Devils were slammed as “embarrassing” by Rio Ferdinand after failing 2-0 down in the first half.But they fought back late on thanks to a stunning Bruno Fernandes free-kick and volley from Manuel Ugarte, who bagged his first goal since his summer arrival from PSG.Amorim’s men were then lucky to escape a penalty in the final moments after VAR overturned the decision.SunSport’s Ken Lawrence has given his ratings of the Manchester United team…Andre Onana – 7United needed him with his game-head on, and his 93rd-minute stop saved a point.Noussair Mazraoui 69′ – 4Looked seriously uncomfortable on the right side of the back three – forced there because of a defensive injury crisisHarry Maguire – 4Out-jumped by Doucoure as the midfielder grabbed Everton’s second and was generally all over the place.Matthijs de Ligt – 4Nowhere for Beto’s opener, completely missing attempted clearance and got away with a 93rd-minute penalty call.Diogo Dalot – 5At least shows willing. Which is more than could be said for some of his team mates at Goodison.Manuel Ugarte – 7Spent most of the game stranded in United’s midfield morass but salvation came with a brilliant strike.Casemiro 62′ – 2The Brazilian is beginning to look like the world’s oldest 32-year-old —he’s become a genuine irrelevance.Patrick Dorgu – 6Made a determined start down the left flank but that enthusiasm was slowly but surely sucked out of him.Bruno Fernandes – 8His free kick was genuine class and once he was dropped deeper started controlling the game.Joshua Zirkzee – 4At £36.5M you would expect an element of ball control but the Dutchman used as a joint No 10 just looks lost.Rasmus Hojlund 69′ – 3Not so much a desperate Dane, more a despairing one although it would help if he had some support.Subs:Alejandro Garnacho 62′ – 7Injected some desperately needed pace and passion. Leny Yoro 69′ – 6Should have been on much earlier.Chido Obi-Martin 69′ – 5The 17-year-old has a presence for sure. More