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    Cadiz demand final nine minutes of match are replayed and threaten legal action after clear VAR error

    CADIZ have demanded a replay of the final nine minutes of their match against Elche after a VAR error cost them a goal.The game ended in a 1-1 draw after Ezequiel Ponce equalised in the 81st minute for Elche.
    Ezequiel Ponce was in an offside position as the ball was headed forward
    The striker scored seconds later to give Elche a point against CadizCredit: Getty
    But replays showed the striker was offside in the build-up – so the goal should not have stood.
    Ponce had strayed beyond the last defender when he ran back to receive a header from his team-mate.
    Three passes later and the ball was in the back of the Cadiz net, with VAR failing to disallow the goal.
    Now Cadiz are threatening legal action leaves them in the La Liga relegation zone and one point off safety.
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    A statement from the club read: “Today, January 17, 2023, the legal services of Cadiz have submitted to the competent federative authorities, a brief challenging the meeting held before Elche.
    “By virtue of which the annulment is requested of the well-deserved match and its resumption from minute 81, at which time the refereeing team validated the goal scored by Elche’s Ezequiel Ponce, despite being preceded by a resounding and flagrant offside, not susceptible to interpretation, as shown by the images of the match.
    “Quite the contrary, if necessary at the end of the season, depending on the sporting and economic damages that may be inferred from the final classification of Cadiz.
    “In the First Division category, this Entity will evaluate the exercise of as many legal actions that assist it in Law, including the action of patrimonial responsibility against the persons, physical or legal, that in the last instance must respond for the damages and losses caused to Cadiz.”
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    Cadiz manager Sergio González revealed referee Carlos del Cerro Grande apologised for the mistake after the match, but club president Manuel Vizcaíno says an apology is not good enough.
    He told radio Marca: “It was hard to sleep last night.
    “There is nothing that can be done for my club now, I just hope it doesn’t happen to someone else.” More

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    Football chiefs to discuss changes to offside law this week after Rashford’s controversial role in Man Utd goal vs City

    FOOTBALL’S law-makers will this week attempt to sort out the offside chaos after another weekend of controversy.Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City team were left furious that Bruno Fernandes’ game-changing leveller was allowed to stand in the Old Trafford derby defeat despite an offside Marcus Rashford marshalling the ball towards goal.
    Bruno Fernandes saw his goal against Manchester City standCredit: AP
    This was despite Marcus Rashford appearing to interfere with play from an offside positionCredit: Reuters
    Man City players were furious over the decisionCredit: Getty
    Ref Stuart Attwell ruled that Rashford had not interfered or impeded any City defender.
    But the decision was the latest offside call to cause controversy.
    The previous weekend saw Mo Salah score an “offside” goal in the FA Cup draw with Wolves after it was deemed that defender Toti had “deliberately” played his wayward clearing header.
    And the lack of consistency across football in many countries sees the International FA Board under pressure to bring some certainty when it meets at Wembley on Wednesday.
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    The “business meeting” comes ahead of the March AGM when formal Law changes for next season will be agreed.
    But one prominent Ifab insider conceded that offside was a “grey area that needs to be addressed”.
    The first move will be confirmation of the guidelines for what determines a “deliberate” defensive play, with more concrete examples of what is viewed as a block or attempted interception – which would NOT be deliberate.
    That would probably have seen the Salah goal chalked off, as Toti was stretching for a misdirected header aware that the Liverpool man was behind him.
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    But Saturday’s events at Old Trafford have heightened the need for more guidance to officials over where an attacking player is or is not deemed to be interfering with play.
    The City defence stopped because they expected the flag to be raised against Rashford before keeper Ederson came out to narrow the angle.
    City could not believe the decision to award the goal after assistant Darren Cann – thinking Rashford had played the ball – raised his flag before Attwell intervened. More

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    The unseen footage that PROVES Liverpool got lucky and Wolves’ offside goal should have counted in FA Cup

    NEW unseen footage PROVES Liverpool got lucky and Wolves’ FA Cup winner should have stood. Julen Lopetegui was left fuming when Toti Gomes’ late strike was chalked off.
    Toti Gomes’ winner at Anfield should have stood and knocked Liverpool out of the FA CupCredit: Getty
    Video footage shows the camera angle the VAR did not have access to
    Wolves ace Matheus Nunes was played onside in the build-up to the goal

    The assistant referee put his flag up to rule it out, with the official penalising corner-taker Matheus Nunes when the ball was headed back out to him to recycle and cross again.
    But fans, coaches, players and even TV commentators were left baffled with no replays of the correct angle available.
    A lengthy VAR review, therefore, resulted in the linesman’s decision standing and the goal ruled out as the tie ended 2-2 and is heading for a replay.
    But now a fan video from the stands at Anfield shared on Instagram shows the incident unfolding – and it does not make fun viewing for Wolves supporters.
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    It shows Nunes taking the corner and a Wolves team-mate heading the ball back out towards the touchline where the Portuguese playmaker receives it.
    However, when the ball is headed, Nunez is clearly onside thanks to Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold at the back post.
    It means the ex-Sporting star started in a legal position when he ran back to collect and deliver the ball back into the box before Hwang Hee-chan’s shot was turned in by Toti.
    But because the VAR did not have that angle to see Nunes’ position and know he was onside, the goal did not stand.
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    Wolves were left utterly apoplectic with manager Lopetegui and captain Ruben Neves going in to speak with referee Andy Madley afterwards.
    The new Molineux boss wanted answers from the FA or ref body PGMOL and said: “We have seen it, the offside doesn’t exist, I’m sorry. It’s impossible.
    “Someone has told him it’s offside, but we’ve seen the images, it doesn’t exist.
    “The decision is wrong. I make mistakes every day, and sometimes they do too.
    “Today we have the help of VAR, and it is a pity, because I’m sorry, it’s not offside.”
    Wolves – whose anger boiled over again on Wednesday when they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Nottingham Forest on penalties – host Liverpool in the replay on January 17.
    The winners will then travel to Brighton in the fourth round for another all-Premier League clash.
    Toti celebrated wildly before realising the flag had wrongly gone upCredit: Getty
    Julen Lopetegui let rip at referee Andrew Madley for the decisionCredit: Reuters More

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    FA Cup fans baffled as NOBODY understands why Wolves winner vs Liverpool is ruled offside.. and NO can cameras prove it

    JURGEN KLOPP admitted Liverpool may have got lucky when VAR was unable to make an offside call, saving the Reds’ FA Cup skin.Viewers across the country were left baffled after what would have been a late Wolves winner was ruled out by officials.
    Wolves defender Toti flicked home Hwang Hee-chan’s shot and looked to have completed an impressive turnaround for the Midlands side.
    But as he took his shirt off in wild celebrations the linesman had his flag up – even though NOBODY watching in the stadium, or on TV, could understand why.
    Toti Gomes saw his goal ruled out for offsideCredit: Reuters
    The Wolves defender took his shirt off and thought he’d scored the winnerCredit: Getty
    Julen Lopetegui was booked for protestingCredit: Getty
    After a lengthy VAR check, in which no camera angle showed a hint of an offside, the decision stood and the goal was chalked off.
    The decision led to an angry reaction from Julen Lopetegui, who was booked for protesting.
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    While the ITV commentators were also confused as to why the goal was disallowed.
    Fans were equally as baffled on social media.
    One said: “Being completely honest I have no idea why that 3rd Wolves goal has been disallowed? 🤯.”
    A second admitted: “How @Wolves 3rd goal be disallowed when it was a clear goal. How VAR make such calls. Totally robbed.”
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    A third chimed in with: “Someone explain to me how that Wolves disallowed goal was offside please? I’m guessing his shadow was offside or summet?”
    After the game, the ITV panel were informed that it wasn’t Gomes who had been penalised but an off-camera Matheus Nunes.
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    The Wolves midfielder had taken a corner and the assistant referee had ruled to be offside before his crucial second delivery into the box.
    The lack of a definitive  camera angle meant referee Andy Madley and VAR official Mike Dean had to go with the on-field call of offside — and Liverpool were off the hook.
    Kop boss Klopp admitted: “We have one picture where it may look offside, but I can understand why they are angry about it. We don’t want the VAR to just have one angle.”
    Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui and skipper Ruben Neves went to the officials to try to get clarification on why it had been ruled out.
    And they also wanted an explanation as to why  Liverpool’s second goal stood, when Mo Salah was in an offside position, as Toti headed a cross from debut boy Cody Gakpo straight to him.
    According to the rules, had Toti just ignored the ball, Salah would have been ruled offside.
    Lopetegui said: “The offside we had, we have seen it, and it doesn’t exist, I’m sorry. It’s impossible.
    “The decision is wrong. I make mistakes every day, and sometimes they do too. Today we have the help of VAR, and it is a pity, because  it’s not offside. One player took advantage of his position, Salah was offside before Toti touched the ball, so he got an advantage.
    “Toti, of course, is only going for it because of the offside player.”
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    SunSport contacted competition organisers the FA last night to ask why VAR was not able to verify the controversial decision.
    Refs expert Mark Halsey said: “The lack of camera angles here highlighted a flaw in the VAR system. We need consistency at all matches in all competitions.” More

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    Watch astonishing moment ex-Liverpool star Nuri Sahin rushes to protect referee from his OWN Antalyaspor players

    EX-LIVERPOOL star Nuri Sahin rushed to protect the referee from his OWN Antalyaspor players after the controversial loss to Fenerbahce.Referee Kadir Saglam sent the Antalyaspor team into fits of rage after a number of controversial decisions saw the team fall to a narrow 2-1 defeat to the Super Lig leaders.

    The Super Lig referee sparked outrage during Antalyaspor’s clash with FenerbacheCredit: beIN Sports via Twitter
    Antalyaspor manager Sahin, who used to play for Liverpool, leapt to the referee’s defenceCredit: beIN Sports via Twitter
    Sahin ushered his players awayCredit: beIN Sports via Twitter
    Antalyaspor were denied an equaliser, which would have pushed them a point above the relegation zone, with a dodgy offside call.
    At full-time, Antalyaspor players angrily confronted referee Saglam.
    But in an effort to calm tensions, ex-Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool and Real Madrid ace Sahin, who manages the team at the young age of 34, leapt to the referee’s defence.
    Sahin extended his arms out to shield Saglam and waived his players away.
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    It didn’t stop Saglam from brandishing a red card though, to what looks to be a staff member.
    After the game, Antalyaspor have demanded the VAR logs in a strongly-worded statement titled “Darkness of night”.
    Antalyaspor branded Saglam as a “novice”, while also citing their previous grievances with the referee.
    It read: “In Turkish football, Sivas and Gaziantep yesterday, Antalya today, is another city where a dark night will be experienced tomorrow.
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    “We knew Kadir Saglam before.
    “Let’s remind: In the Kasımpaşa match we played in the 5th week of this season , tonight’s referee Kadir Saglam was also the one who did not give a red card to Larsson’s face in the match against Kasimpasa, but who made up a penalty in the position that went aude, and who was suspended for 4 weeks after this match.
    “We said we don’t want novice referees.
    “In today’s match, the same referee who assisted Fenerbahce’s first goal, sought the penalty and made up the offside, despite being stopped by a foul while attacking with Bunyamin while he was ahead 1-0.
    “We wonder if there ‘s any offside talk in the VAR recordings .
    “We demand clarification, we believe that TFF’s understanding of transparency requires it.
    “If there is a right, we want it to be known that we are not halal.
    “We are against the order that treats Anatolian clubs to the championship race. We demand justice not only for our community, but for all Anatolian clubs.”
    Bitter rivals Galatasaray have echoed Antalyaspor’s calls for the release of the VAR recordings.
    Galatasaray trail their Istanbul rivals in the Super Lig by two points and would be level had Tuesday’s game with Antalyaspor ended a draw.
    Galatasaray tweeted: “Those who do not suffer from justice received their privilege @Fenerbahce .
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    “We will continue to seek justice for all.
    “Let the VAR records of the Antalyaspor – Fenerbahce match be announced, let’s see what a cover is for the operation.” More

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    Fans fume as Brighton have goal disallowed by VAR to halt furious comeback.. and even Arsenal fans can’t believe it

    FANS are all saying the same thing after Brighton were denied a third goal by VAR which halted their furious comeback against Arsenal.Kaoru Mitoma thought he had got the Seagulls right back into the game at 4-3.
    Kaoru Mitoma thought he made it 4-3 before VAR ruled it outCredit: AFP
    Mitoma’s back foot was adjudged to have been just offsideCredit: Sky Sports
    But VAR intervened and ruled the goal out.
    The Japanese international sparked Brighton’s comeback in the first place, firing past Aaron Ramsdale to make it 3-1 after goals from Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Eddie Nketiah.
    Gabriel Martinelli did restore the Gunners’ three-goal lead but 18-year-old Evan Ferguson’s first Premier League goal soon made it 4-2.
    And Mitoma looked to have put the Seagulls within one of the leaders.
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    However, his deflected effort was harshly ruled out despite the ball seemingly going backwards from Julio Enciso’s poor touch.
    And fans have been left flabbergasted that the technology managed to chalk it off.
    One said: “Mitoma’s second goal perfectly describes why the offside rule needs to change.”
    A second chimed in with: “Was the ball played forward? Or am I getting this offside confused.”
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    A third said: “Ball went backwards didn’t it? Therefore can’t be offside!”
    Another admitted: “Why did VAR even get involved? That was so close and so influential… for the benefit of free flowing and fun games, that was just pathetic.”
    Even Arsenal supporters couldn’t believe their luck.
    One wrote said: “I’m an Arsenal fan and a supporter of VAR but overturning that third goal made no sense.
    “They have to adjust the rule for situations like that.”
    Arsenal’s win leaves them seven points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League going into 2023. More

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    Premier League confirm SIX incorrect VAR calls this season including Arsenal’s disallowed goal against Man Utd

    PREMIER LEAGUE chiefs have accepted there have been six game-changing “wrong” VAR decisions in the first half of the season.New refs’ boss Howard Webb’s reign begins with the Boxing Day fixtures and the former World Cup Final whistler is understood to be determined to make clubs, managers, players and fans feel more convinced by the effectiveness of the technology.
    Gabriel Martinelli had a goal wrong disallowed at Old TraffordCredit: Getty
    Cristian Romero should have been penalised for a hair pull on Marc CucurellaCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
    That will see a push to ensure there are fewer VAR interventions when the on-field decision is not “clearly and obviously” wrong.
    Among the six shockers accepted by the Prem hierarchy was Gabriel Martinelli’s disallowed goal for Arsenal against Manchester United.
    The Brazilian’s goal was chalked off after referee Paul Tierney consulted the VAR monitor and wrongly decided Martin Odegaard had fouled Christian Eriksen in the build-up.
    Another mistake was West Ham’s disallowed “equaliser” against Chelsea and the decision to rule out the own goal by Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell at Newcastle.
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    The new “key match incident panel”, including three former players and representatives from the Prem and PGMOL believes that 42 interventions were correct but that there were six incidents when the on-field decision should have been changed.
    That included the failure to dismiss Tottenham defender Cristian Romero for hair-pulling directly before Harry Kane’s equaliser at Chelsea and the spot-kick Spurs should have been awarded for Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shove on Ryan Sessegnon in the defeat by Liverpool.
    Meanwhile, Prem chiefs have applied to football’s Law-makers the International FA Board for permission to conduct a trial of temporary concussion substitutes next season.
    The Prem, Ligue 1 in France and the MLS want to undertake the trial.
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    But there remains doubt over whether Ifab will grant approval as the Zurich-based body feels that there is too much of a risk in players being prematurely sent back onto the field after a rushed examination.
    There will not be a replication of the extended injury time process shown in the World Cup when the Prem resumes as League chiefs believe they must be consistent over the rest of the season.
    That extra time could come into effect next season depending on consultations.
    Meanwhile Prem bosses have yet to decide whether to introduce Fifa’s groundbreaking semi-automated offside technology for next season.
    One issue is likely to be that the chip-in-ball technology used in Qatar is licensed to Adidas whereas Premier League balls are manufactured by Nike. More

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    Controversial referee for England exit was only on VAR at 2018 World Cup and had already been blasted for Qatar displays

    REFEREE Wilton Sampaio was only on VAR duty at the last World Cup.The 40-year-old Brazilian official was in charge of England’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to France.
    Wilton Sampaio was criticised by pundits and players for his display in England vs FranceCredit: EPA
    Sampaio made a number of questionable decisionsCredit: Reuters
    This challenge by Dayot Upamecano on Harry Kane was not ruled a foulCredit: Alamy
    Some fans reckoned Bukayo Saka was fouled by Upamecano in the build up to France’s openerCredit: Getty
    But the man in the middle came under fire for his performance.
    Four years ago at the World Cup in Russia Sampaio was on VAR duty and he had already caused controversy this tournament before Saturday night’s display.

    Sampaio gave Saudi Arabia a penalty in their group game against Poland after checking the VAR monitor at the side of the pitch.
    He penalised Krystian Bielik for a challenge on Saleh Al-Shehri, despite there appearing to be little contact.
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    Pundits also reckoned right-back Matty Cash should have been shown a second yellow card in the sane game, which Poland won 2-0.
    Then last night Three Lions skipper Harry Kane was denied a first-half penalty despite appearing to be tripped by France defender Dayot Upamecano.
    Sampaio also waved play on after a robust Upamecano challenge on Saka in the build up to France’s opener.
    He did award England a penalty when Aurelien Tchouameni blatantly tripped Saka on the box, but was initially unmoved when Mason Mount was barged over by Theo Hernandez later in the game.
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    Having consulted VAR Sampaio eventually gave England a second penalty, which Kane skied over the bar.
    Former England defender Gary Neville brandished the ref a “joke” following the game.
    He said on ITV: “The referee had a nightmare game, an absolute joke of a referee.
    “I’m not saying that was all down to England’s defeat because that’s making excuses, he was just a bad referee, rank bad.”
    England defender Harry Maguire said: “I can’t really explain his performance, the amount of decisions he got wrong was actually incredible. Really poor.”
    Pranksters even changed Sampaio’s Wikipedia page after a number of his debateable decisions.
    Before England vs France Sampaio had reffed 381 games in his career – dishing out 1,856 yellow cards, 102 reds, and 114 penalties.
    Jude Bellingham left in disbelief by a decisionCredit: AP More