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    Man Utd fans fume after being denied penalty for ‘clear handball’ against Southampton

    MANCHESTER UNITED fans were left fuming after being denied a penalty for handball against Southampton. The sides were level at Old Trafford when Marcus Rashford put in a cross from the left wing.
    Man Utd fans fumed at being denied a penalty for handball against Southampton
    Defender Armel Bella-Kotchap was practically left on all fours as he blocked the incoming ball.
    Replays revealed it struck the top of the centre-back’s arm but referee Anthony Taylor waved play on.
    No penalty was awarded even after a VAR check – leaving United fans fuming online.
    One said: “Hi @Specsavers, think we might have a new client for you, goes by the name of Anthony Taylor.”
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    Another added: “If this was our player handling the ball in the box Anthony Taylor would have pointed to the spot without hesitation.”
    One posted: “How is that not a penalty to Manchester United? We’ve conceded penalties for FAR LESS this season.
    “It’s a clear handball that’s prevented Weghorst from having a chance to score. Yet no intervention from VAR. NONSENSE!”
    Another said: “What’s a handball nowadays?”
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    It added more misery to United’s day after Casemiro was sent off for a tackle on Carlos Alcaraz.
    The Brazilian initially won the ball but went in with his studs up and his momentum saw him follow through.
    Taylor gave a yellow at first but following a VAR check, Casemiro was shown straight red for the second time this season.
    Casemiro shown red against SouthamptonCredit: AFP More

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    Watch ridiculous moment referee awards penalty after two attacking team-mates run into EACH OTHER

    THIS is the moment a referee awarded a penalty after two players from the same team ran into EACH OTHER. The match in the Copa do Brasil saw referee Paulo Roberto Alves Júnior award a penalty despite the collision being players from the same team.
    Tombense players attempt to get the ball in the Retrô penalty areaCredit: SPORTV
    But two Tombense players hit each otherCredit: SPORTV
    Before the ref amazingly awarded a penaltyCredit: SPORTV
    With a loose ball in the area, Tombense star Jaderson fell to floor after colliding with his team-mate.
    And despite the referee appearing to have a good view of the incident, he then awarded a spot-kick to the home side.
    Retrô players were livid at the decision, surrounding the ref and imploring him to change his decision.
    This saw Pedro Costa and goalkeeper Jean awarded yellow cards for protest.
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    Without the benefit of VAR, the ref did not overturn his call.
    Tombense striker Alex Sandro then stepped up to take the shot, with Jean managing to save the spot-kick.
    However, Sandro subsequently converted from the rebound and sent his side through to the next round.
    The game would go on to end in chaos.
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    THREE Retro players were sent off at the end of the game.
    As quoted by World Today News, retired Brazilian referee Sandro Ricci said: “It wasn’t a penalty. The referee was deceived, tricked by the fall of the player.
    “The player from Retrô (Alencar, midfielder) goes for the move, but steps on the ground.” More

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    Stats show VAR has HELPED Arsenal in title race despite Gunners fans being left baffled by decisions

    VAR has appeared to have HELPED Arsenal in their title pursuit – despite fans being left angered by decisions this season. The Gunners have put themselves in a very encouraging position heading into the final few months of the Premier League season.
    Video Assistant Referees (VAR) continues to be a divisive addition to professional footballCredit: Reuters
    Many Arsenal fans feel like their club have not been lucky with VAR – but that has not derailed the Gunners’ brilliant seasonCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    Manchester City have only had one VAR decision go in their favour all seasonCredit: EPA
    Mikel Arteta’s side have a five point lead over Manchester City – and have left every other team in the dust.
    The club are potentially just 12 games away from a first title in almost two decades.
    But anxious fans have become increasingly suspicious of VAR – and that mood went into overdrive last month after Lee Mason’s mistake when Brentford visited the Emirates.
    But new stats from ESPN suggest Arsenal have actually had the rub of the green when it comes to video technology.
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    The club have seen five decisions go their way this season, with only a handful of clubs getting more lucky with VAR interventions.
    Meanwhile, title rivals Man City have only had one VAR decision go their way all season long.
    Only relegation-battling Southampton have had a less good time of it from officials at Stockley Park with the Saints not having a single decision go in their favour so far.
    At the other end of the VAR table, West Ham have benefited the most from controversial refereeing decisions with eight moments going in their favour.
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    West Ham have had the most VAR decisions go in their favour this season
    Fellow Londoners Brentford follow with seven decisions, while Fulham, Liverpool and Newcastle all had six moments go their way thanks to technology.
    While Arsenal have enjoyed some favourable interventions, data suggests they have also had five decisions go against them throughout the course of the season.
    Along with Mason’s howler, the Gunners have found themselves at the centre of several 50/50 VAR moments.
    Many disagreed with the decision to award Arsenal a penalty against Man City when Eddie Nketiah clashed with goalkeeper Ederson last month.
    While even more controversy was sparked when Leandro Trossard saw his goal against Leicester chalked off later in February. More

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    Arsenal fans left fuming at VAR AGAIN after being denied penalty for handball vs Bournemouth

    ARSENAL fans were left raging after being denied a penalty against Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.The Gunners went behind after just NINE SECONDS at the Emirates when Sam Billing tucked home from close range.
    Arsenal fans thought they were going to be awarded a penalty
    But VAR did not send referee Chris Kavanagh to the monitor
    But Mikel Arteta’s men thought they had been given a route back into the match when Chris Mepham appeared to bring the ball down with his arm.
    Referee Chris Kavanagh did not point to the spot, but VAR then had a close look as Arsenal supporters waited intently.
    However, much to the surprise of many fans watching on, the official was not sent to the monitor as play resumed.
    And fans of the North London club took to social media to vent their frustration.
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    One person said: “What the hell? That was a handball in the box, VAR checked it. Why is it not a penalty for Arsenal? WTF 🤬”.
    Another added: “How that handball wasn’t a penalty kick is beyond me”.
    A third replied: “It’s pretty damn clear a handball but VAR is always against Arsenal 😡 c’mon boys! 👊”.
    And a fourth responded: “Someone explain the handball rule to me because I’m lost”.
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    Arsenal’s grievances with VAR stem from a huge error which allowed Brentford’s equaliser to stand at the Emirates last month.
    Official Lee Mason forgot to draw the necessary lines for an offside call – which would have seen the goal ruled out.
    And it ended up costing Arteta’s men two points in the title race.
    They came into the Bournemouth clash having watched Manchester City beat Newcastle 2-0 to reduce the gap at the top to just two points. More

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    Arsenal and Chelsea legend Cesc Fabregas fumes after being robbed of LaLiga title with Barcelona

    CESC FABREGAS believes he was robbed of a LaLiga title during his time at Barcelona.The midfielder is still fuming after a vital Lionel Messi goal was incorrectly ruled out by referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz for offside.
    Cesc Fabregas is still annoyed about losing the 2013/14 LaLiga titleCredit: Getty – Contributor
    Lionel Messi was denied a goal in that crucial meetingCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Messi was judged to be offside as the ball came to him with officials thinking that Fabregas was the last one to touch the ball.
    But replays showed that it was actually Atletico Madrid defender Juanfran with the final touch.
    If the goal had been allowed to stand then Barcelona would have beaten Atletico on the final day of the 2013/14 season and sealed the league title.
    However, the game finished 1-1, meaning the trophy went to Atletico.
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    And Fabregas – who would have picked up his second Spanish LaLiga title – is still annoyed about the mistake.
    He said: “They took away a league against Atlético de Madrid from me.
    “I was in the game and they annulled a goal that was legal, because I didn’t touch the ball, Juanfran touched it.”
    Former Barcelona assistant manager Elvio Paolorosso even revealed that referee Antonio Meteu Lahoz admitted his mistake and apologised to the team after the game.
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    He said: “Messi scored a goal that would have given us the title and the referee ruled it out.
    “We were crying in the dressing room and the referee came to apologise.”
    Midfield maestro Fabregas left Barcelona following the end of the season and returned to the Premier League by joining Chelsea.
    He is now playing for Serie B side Como after a three-year stint with AS Monaco. More

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    Premier League VAR chief Neil Swarbrick to RETIRE at the end of the season after string of controversial decisions

    PREMIER LEAGUE VAR chief Neil Swarbrick is reportedly set to retire at the end of the season.It comes following a swathe of controversial decisions made by VAR this season.
    VAR chief Neil Swarbrick is set to retire at the end of the seasonCredit: Getty – Contributor
    Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL) chief Howard Webb has been ruthlessly shaking up the refereeing body in a bid to improve the quality of decision making.
    And The Athletic report Swarbrick is the latest name set to leave as part of the continued overhaul.
    Swarbrick had worked as an on-field official until his retirement in the 2017/18 season.
    He was then appointed as the head of VAR before of its introduction in the 2019/20 season.
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    Swarbrick’s exit comes just weeks after dedicated VAR ref Lee Mason was AXED following his blunder during Arsenal’s clash against Brentford.
    Like Mason, Swarbrick came under scrutiny for a mistake as he oversaw West Ham’s clash against Chelsea and opted not to award a penalty after Tomas Soucek appeared to handle the ball.

    Both officials were subsequently left out of VAR duties for the following round of fixtures, before Mason left PGMOL completely earlier this month.
    However, the report suggests this move is not in reaction to recent events and has instead been in the works for a while.
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    As of yet there is no announcement to his successor.
    VAR once again came under controversy in an Arsenal game this weekend, as an Arsenal opener was ruled out for a soft Ben White foul on Danny Ward.
    Arsenal legend Ian Wright slammed the decision as “a phenomenal mistake”. More

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    Leicester 0 Arsenal 1: Martinelli’s goal keeps title bid on track as Gunners edge past Foxes but VAR is involved again

    GABRIEL MARTINELLI delivered a perfect ten as Mikel Arteta’s away day specialists strengthened their grip on the title race.The Brazilian international’s 46th minute winner was enough to secure Arsenal’s tenth Premier League victory on the road.
    Martinelli proved to be the match-winner with this strike in the 46th minuteCredit: Getty
    Arsenal had to show some resolve on a tricky afternoon at the King Power StadiumCredit: Reuters
    That’s more than they managed on their travels in the whole of last season.
    And it means that victory at home to struggling Everton on Wednesday night will take them into the final three months of the campaign comfortably clear of second-placed Manchester City. 
    It wasn’t the most convincing of performances from the League leaders but at this stage of the campaign it’s all about results.
    And after briefly looking as if they were about to falter, back to back wins at Aston Villa and now Leicester have got them right back on track.
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    Even another VAR row wasn’t going to disturb their progress as toothless Leicester failed to deliver a single shot on target all afternoon.
    Yet they were made to work hard for their points after they dominated all the early possession without causing too many problems with their slick passing.
    Martin Odegaard and Oleskandr Zinchenko were popping up all over the pitch as they tried to drag their opponents out of position.
    But Leicester stuck gamely to their task and always managed to keep someone between the ball and their goal.
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    So it wasn’t until the 18th minute that Arsenal’s first meaningful attempt arrived when Bukayo Saka looked to capitalise on Wilfred Ndidi’s slip.
    But with England boss Gareth Southgate looking on from the directors’ box, Saka ‘s wayward shot from the edge of the area was never going to trouble keeper Danny Ward.
    Ward had suffered an absolute shocker when Leicester were beaten 4-2 at the Emirates back in August and must have been fearing another test of his nerves from the League leaders.
    And his heart was certainly in his mouth when Leandro Trossard curled one into his top corner after he had flapped tamely at Saka’s 27th minute corner.
    But ref Craig Pawson was advised by VAR Michael Salisbury to take a look at the pitchside TV screen and eventually ruled that Ben White was impeding Ward when the ball had been delivered into his six-yard area.
    It was a close call and one that certainly didn’t meet with the approval of Arteta.
    Limp Leicester struggled to get going throughout the afternoon
    Arsenal were in control for most of the game at the King Power
    And the Arsenal’s boss’ mood wasn’t helped five minutes later when Saka was bundled over from behind by Harry Souttar as he closed in on White’s cross.
    It certainly looked like a penalty on the TV replays as Souttar appeared to stumble before dragging his opponent to the ground 
    But the incident wasn’t even referred to Stockley Park as the travelling Gunners fans vented their anger at the officials.
    They hadn’t forgotten how refs’ chief Howard Webb had apologised to their club two weeks ago after Brentford’s offside equaliser had been allowed to stand.
    And this was doing nothing to dispel the paranoia of the online conspiracy theorists who are convinced that Arsenal are the victims of a referees’ conspiracy designed to stop them winning the league.
    Yet Leicester were unable to take advantage of those reprieves despite the acres of space behind Arsenal’s back four as they looked to compress the game.
    Arsenal fans were left frustrated after VAR judged Danny Ward to have been fouled by Ben White – and the on-field referee agreedCredit: Premier League
    Kelechi Iheanacho did put the ball into Aaron Ramsdale’s net but was clearly offside when he raced on to Tete’s through ball.
    And without the injured James Maddison to pull the strings, Brendan Rodgers’ team were sadly lacking in attacking ideas.
    Tomorrow is the fourth anniversary of Rodgers’ appointment as Leicester boss and one he won’t be celebrating with much enthusiasm when he looks at the League table.
    They have failed to keep a single Premier League clean sheet since returning to action after the World Cup and are still looking anxiously over their shoulders at the relegation zone. 
    And any ideas of buying themselves a bit of breathing space were dispelled right at the start of the second-half.
    It was a frustrating afternoon for Brendan Rodgers as he approaches four years as Leicester bossCredit: Rex
    Because whatever Arteta said to his players during the interval clearly worked and within 53 seconds of the restart they were ahead.
    Gabriel’s long punt forward picked out Trossard on the left wing and when he slipped the ball through Souttar’s legs Martinelli raced in to steer an unerring shot beyond Ward’s reach into the far corner
    It was the young Brazilian’s ninth goal of the season and well worth the pain of a whack on the ankle as he was caught by Ndidi’s follow through.
    Saka thought he had doubled Arsenal’s lead ten minutes later when he tapped in from close range, but once again VAR was not his friend as Martinelli was confirmed to have strayed marginally offside in the build-up.
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    Yet not even the injection of Jamie Vardy’s pace from the subs’ bench was going to spoil their day out as they comfortably saw the game out before hitting the M1 with the points in the bag. More

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    ‘It’s a phenomenal mistake’ – Arsenal legend Ian Wright slams ‘ridiculous’ no penalty decision for foul on Saka

    IAN WRIGHT has slammed the “ridiculous” decision not to award Bukayo Saka a penalty against Leicester.A controversial first half saw Arsenal denied a spot-kick while VAR also chalked off Leandro Trossard’s goal.
    Bukayo Saka appeared to be bundled over by Harry SouttarCredit: beIN Sports
    Ian Wright did not hold back when criticising the decisionCredit: PA
    The Gunners also could have had a penalty after Saka was bundled over in the area under a challenge from Harry Souttar.
    Wright was outraged at the decision while former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher also felt the Gunners should have been given a penalty.
    Appearing on Premier League Productions, Wright fumed saying: “That was a ridiculous decision. A phenomenal mistake.”
    Fellow pundit Alan Shearer agreed, adding: “Yes definitely 100%, how can they not give?
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    “Yeah it was an accidental slip but that doesn’t matter.”
    Arsenal were also denied a first half goal after Ben White was judged to have impeded Leicester keeper Danny Ward as he went to punch the ball.
    Wright felt VAR made the right call to disallow the goal, but some Gooners felt the officials were inconsistent with how they dealt with the two incidents.
    One Arsenal fan wrote on Twitter: “I just want things to be consistent. If White’s hold is a foul why isn’t the hold called when Saka is held. Would be nice.”
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    Another added: “It’s outrageous how VAR keeps turning a blind eye to situations meant to favor us.”
    And a third said: “I’m tired of this man.”
    Martinelli’s second-half strike was enough to claim all three points and it guaranteed the Gunners’ spot at the top for at least another week. More