More stories

  • in

    How Premier League table would look without VAR with Man Utd and Chelsea benefiting most from technology

    CHELSEA and Manchester United are the biggest winners from VAR this season.The Blues currently sit seventh in the Premier League table on ten points.
    How the team at Stockley Park have affected the table
    Refereeing and the use of VAR has been heavily scrutinised again this seasonCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    Jarrod Bowen was somehow penalised as the refs decided this was a foul on Edouard MendyCredit: Getty
    But without the often-questionable intervention of the refs in their Stockley Park booths and subsequent reversal of decisions, they would be five places and two points worse off.
    Meanwhile, the Red Devils drop a big three points, the most in the division, to slide from fifth to ninth.
    Among the key calls to go in their favour was West Ham’s late equaliser controversially and inexplicably being ruled out at Stamford Bridge.
    And the ESPN research suggests the decision to rule out Gabriel Martinelli’s opener spared Erik ten Hag’s side a defeat – despite going on to secure a 3-1 win over Arsenal.
    READ MORE PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS
    Brentford also drop five places to 14th without VAR thanks to their key role in the Bees beating West Ham while Liverpool would have lost the Merseyside derby.
    On the flip side, Arsenal are the Premier League’s biggest losers – despite still being top of the table.
    As mentioned, their 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford would be flipped to a win and therefore give them a perfect 21 points from seven games so far, extending their lead to two points from Tottenham instead of one from Manchester City.
    Spurs are also hard done by after their penalty at West Ham was chalked off – otherwise, they would be directly below the Gunners going into the crunch North London derby which sees Jarred Gillett on VAR duties.
    Most read in Football
    HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
    Leeds and Everton both climb five places without VAR decisions while Bournemouth and relegation-threatened Wolves leap up four spots.
    The bottom three of West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Leicester remain the same.
    Forest’s sole Premier League victory this season against the Hammers would not have stood while not even scrapping VAR calls can help under-fire Brendan Rodgers get his first three points of the season for the struggling Foxes.
    Gabriel Martinelli’s goal at Old Trafford was ruled out for a foul on Christian EriksenCredit: Getty
    Conor Coady thought he had won the Merseyside derby for Everton before a VAR reviewCredit: Getty More

  • in

    Referee BANNED FOR LIFE for holding ‘VAR review’ on fan’s phone as ex-Man Utd ace Nemanja Matic sends message of support

    SERBIAN referee Stefan Lazovic has received support from Nemanja Matic after being permanently banned for his “budget VAR check”.Lazovic recently went viral when he decided to rule out a goal after checking footage recorded on a fan’s phone.
    Serbian ref Stefan Lazovic checked footage on a fan’s phoneCredit: KURIR
    Nemanja Matic has backed his compatriotCredit: Getty
    Serbian chiefs reportedly didn’t take too kindly to the incident from a lower league match going viral around the world – allegedly stripping Lazovic of his duties.
    The decision has prompted outrage from fans online – with former Manchester United star Nemanja Matic among those to have offered their support to the axed whistler.
    Matic, now of Roma, commented on a piece supporting Lazovic with a two hands raised emoji – agreeing with the points made.
    The post by Instagram account ftbl.serbia read: “Support for Stefan Lazovic! Why should only he suffer, why such a rigorous sentence, why a lifetime ban from trial?
    READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
    “How is it possible that there is no penalty for the delegate and all other authorities from the responsible FS of that district?
    “How could the match be allowed to be played without one assistant referee?! Who is responsible here? Why does Stefan’s spear break?
    “At the end of the day, the fact that he watched the video and changed the decision, just shows that he wanted everything to be FAIR!
    “He talks about the fact that he was not a slave to his vanity, but he admitted and corrected his mistake.
    Most read in Football
    HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
    “Well, this video went around the world and now millions of people have heard about the “over there” football clubs Popovic and Apollon, as well as the village of Vrnjci!
    “In short, we appeal to the judges’ organisation and the competent authorities – now you CHANGE the decision! Let the VAR system work for you too and cancel the penalty. Correct the ERROR!
    “SUPPORT FOR STEFAN LAZOVIC!”
    Plenty of other commenters agreed with the post.
    One wrote: “Punishment for correcting a wrong decision.”
    While a second added: “He always turns out to be an honest man, he didn’t harm anyone, he just did the right thing, good for Stefan Lazovic.”
    Nemanja Matic offered his support to Lazovic More

  • in

    Watch referee hold ‘VAR review’ on FAN’S PHONE before disallowing goal to spark wild celebrations

    A REFEREE disallowed a goal at a football game after holding a VAR review on a FAN’S PHONE. VAR is a controversial tool at the best of times – and that’s with the use of high-quality cameras and a whole team at Stockley Park.
    A referee takes a fan’s phone to watch a replayCredit: Twitter/@sportbible
    The referee watches the footageCredit: Twitter/@sportbible
    He then rules the goal should be disallowedCredit: Twitter/@sportbible
    But this maverick referee paid no mind to that as he held his own impromptu review with nothing but a pitchside fan’s phone for assistance.
    In a viral video, said to take place at a Serbian lower league game, a fan brandishes his mobile to help the referee come to a decision on whether to allow a goal.
    The referee took the phone and looked at the footage for over half a minute before deciding to rule out the goal.
    This decision sent the team wearing blue wheeling away in celebration of the ruling in their favour.
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    Fans were quick to draw comparisons to the actual VAR process used typically in the top professional leagues and competitions.
    One user described it as: “VAR on budget.”
    A second user said: “Better than VAR,” while another echoed this saying: “So even Sunday league Serbia is better than the EPL VAR!”
    However, some eagle-eyed viewers also picked up on the referee never actually returning the phone to the fan who gave it to him.
    Most read in Football
    HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
    A user asked: “Is he going to return his phone?”
    Another said: “the referee took his phone,” and followed it up with a crying emoji.
    VAR officiating came under intense scrutiny after some very controversial calls during the last set of Premier League fixtures.
    The Premier League and PGMOL (the referees’ governing body) declared they would review the decisions made at Stamford Bridge and St James’ Park that weekend. More

  • in

    Karren Brady: Decision to disallow West Ham’s goal vs Chelsea last weekend was worst I’ve seen in 30 years in football

    AT West Ham we are still angered by the VAR farce that cost us a point at Stamford Bridge last weekend.So much so that I insisted the Premier League add VAR and referee standards to their next agenda.
    West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen was controversially judged to have fouled Edouard Mendy in the lead-up to a disallowed goalCredit: Getty
    Karren Brady has slammed the decision to disallow West Ham’s equaliser against ChelseaCredit: Getty
    The decision to disallow our goal on Saturday at Chelsea was one of the worst I have seen in over 30 years in football.
    It was, in the words of Alan Shearer, a “terrible, disgraceful decision, ridiculous”.
    Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said the verdict, reached after nearly four minutes of VAR confusion, was correct. And a lot of good it did him.
    Truth is that VAR is below an acceptable standard, is bringing the league into disrepute and is financially damaging for clubs.
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    West Ham lost a point through officials’ incompetence and whilst it will not get us back the point stolen, we at least have to try and prevent such incompetence happening again.
    When VAR was introduced as the ref’s little friend, it was to be a second opinion with offsides and little more.
    Like all true bureaucracies it has taken over in areas it should never have been allowed — handballs in the penalty area, serious-looking fouls, indeed in almost any controversy.
    Gradually our helpful pal has become an ogre.
    Most read in Football
    Which I warned about at the very beginning.
    It was always far too easy to hand a useful piece of kit responsibilities it couldn’t handle.
    Bear in mind, humans overlooking the screens in a room in West London are just as likely to make mistakes as an experienced referee.
    And, of course, the individual did on Saturday, as did another that day in Newcastle’s home match with Crystal Palace, for which the  VAR advisor Lee Mason had been kicked off the desk this weekend.
    Neither Mason nor our particular scourge, Jarred Gillett, were in a position to make such judgments.
    And neither should the actual referees have accepted them.
    But, like camouflaged soldiers capturing foreign land, that is the creeping strength of many a zoom system.
    And yet you can hope sport’s governing bodies will stop falling for such easy-to-apply answers.
    Which is why the Prem agreed instantly that the subject would be added on the agenda at their next meeting.
    The highest levels of football are being undermined when clubs are robbed of points by grossly inaccurate decisions.
    The decision to disallow our goal on Saturday at Chelsea was one of the worst I have seen in over 30 years in football. It was, in the words of Alan Shearer, a “terrible, disgraceful decision, ridiculous”.Karren Brady
    Those points will have been costly in terms of place money in the Premier League and possibly European competition.
    Far from aiding mission creep, we should be examining ways of cutting VAR influence. 
    It is not justice being seen to be done. It can never be accurate to the nearest shirt button or shoelace.
    And long delays for VAR decisions are becoming a vast bore for supporters, who must often wait minutes to see whether a goal is allowed or a penalty given.
    What with these delays and the long hold-ups for player treatment, never mind the squirming acts of pretenders, five to ten minutes of added time have become common.
    To many of us, the answer is clear. VAR has a place for offside decisions and goal-line rulings.
    Otherwise leave all decisions to refs with a player’s rights of appeal for sendings off.
    And perhaps it should not be used at all until those using it learn how to use it correctly.
    Yes, I remember refs getting things wrong but we all understand human error even if we boo it. Booing VAR is as useless as booing a late bus.

    HAMMERS TRIBUTE
    West Ham paid tribute to The Queen with a minute’s silence on Thursday nightCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    THE announcement our beloved Queen had died was made hours before our Europa Conference League game was due to kick off.
    At West Ham we all loved our Queen — it was even rumoured she was a secret Hammer!
    Uefa and the FA declared Thursday’s game had to go ahead as it was too late to cancel, so we made the best plans we could to honour her.
    Black armbands, her magnificent image beaming into the ground, and a rousing, emotional and heartfelt singing of our national anthem — sung so passionately by our claret-and-blue army that it brought a tear to my eye — all featured.
    What sadness across the country and at West Ham we send our sincere condolences to the Royal Family.
    Rest in peace, Your Majesty. More

  • in

    Fuming Michail Antonio calls for VAR to be ‘binned’ following West Ham’s controversial disallowed goal vs Chelsea

    MICHAIL ANTONIO insists that VAR should be “binned” following the latest controversial weekend in the Premier League.The West Ham forward believed his side had scored a late equaliser at Chelsea on Saturday.
    Michail Antonio has called for West Ham to be binnedCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    It comes after West Ham’s ‘equaliser’ at Chelsea was controversially ruled outCredit: pixel8000
    However, it was ruled out after Jarrod Bowen was ruled to have fouled Blues keeper Edouard Mendy after a video check
    That was not the only incident to make the headlines regarding VAR.
    Newcastle were denied a victory over Crystal Palace when Tyrick Mitchell’s own goal was chalked off for a foul on Vicente Guaita.
    The PGMOL then admitted on Sunday that both decisions were incorrect.
    READ MORE FOOTBALL
    That has led to huge debate about the application of VAR in the Premier League.
    But Hammers star Antonio, 32, has left no doubts about what his feelings are about the technology.
    He told the BBC’s Footballer’s Football Podcast: “It was a madness, that’s what I am going to call it. An actual madness.
    “I have said this many times. It needs to be binned.
    Most read in Football
    PADDY POWER BETTING OFFER – GET £50 BACK AS CASH
    “As a player we all knew it [the incident] was nothing.
    It is all about opinions – about the referee’s opinion, about the fourth official’s opinion and about the opinion of whoever is watching.
    “If the referee makes a decision, then there is another person who goes ‘that might not be the right decision’.
    “He goes to the referee ‘you might have to have another look at that.’” More

  • in

    Football fans left stunned after non-league Chippenham awarded ‘shocking’ penalty against Oxford City

    FANS of Oxford City FC have been left stunned after rivals Chippenham Town were awarded a controversial late penalty. And The Hoops shared a clip of the penalty on their social media to highlight the refereeing call.

    An Oxford City defender gets back to clear the ball off the lineCredit: Twitter
    The Chippenham Town attacker who was pressing the ball follows through and gets tripped up by the defender after the ball has already been clearedCredit: Twitter
    The referee awarded a penalty to the dismay of OxfordCredit: Twitter
    A poor header back towards goal was latched onto by a Chippenham attacker, who then proceeded to lob the ball over the goalkeeper.
    But a defender managed to make a heroic sliding clearance off the line to prevent a goal, taking the onrushing attacker out with it.
    However, City were left perplexed when a penalty was awarded against them for a seemingly clean tackle.
    Jordan Young subsequently converted the 98th-minute penalty to hand Oxford their second defeat on the spin in the National League South.
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    Oxford manager Ross Jenkins was also critical of the decision on Oxford City’s YouTube channel.
    He said: “Yeah it wasn’t just out angle, it was the whole stadium’s angle. It was all sides of the stadium that saw it wasn’t a penalty.
    “It was an error from us to head it backwards, we accept that, but then we’ve done so well to recover and clear it off the line.
    “You can clearly see our player has nicked the ball first and their players followed through and gone over the top of him.
    Most read in Football
    FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
    “I’m not quite sure what the referee saw, but it’s not good enough because it’s cost us points tonight… it’s really disappointing and a big error on the ref’s part.”
    Fans on social media echoed this sentiment.
    One user said: “No pen, great defending,” while a second described it as: “shocking.”
    Another added: “If that is a penalty I’m a polar bear.”
    Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey even weighed in on the debate.
    He said: “Imo (in my opinion) no one would have complained if the referee had just played on.”
    Read More on The Sun
    It comes amid a weekend of controversial decisions in the Premier League despite the assistance of VAR.
    Referee governing body PGMOL even admitted decisions which went against West Ham and Newcastle in their respective games against Chelsea and Crystal Palace would be reviewed after heavy criticism. More

  • in

    Fans all say the same thing about NEW-LOOK VAR graphics as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is denied Chelsea debut goal

    FOOTBALL fans were left thoroughly impressed by the Champions League’s new-look VAR graphics after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was denied a goal on his Chelsea debut.Thomas Tuchel’s men were left stunned as Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb beat them 1-0 on Tuesday evening.
    Aubameyang thought he had given Chelsea the leadCredit: AP
    But the goal was ruled out by VAR as Aubameyang was offsideCredit: AP
    This is the new technology Champions League are using
    Fans were loving the new-look video assistant referee
    Aubameyang, who was wearing a face mask to protect the broken jaw he sustained in a robbery at his home, thought he had netted in his first goal for the Blues four minutes after half-time.
    The strike would have drawn Chelsea level after Mislav Orsic’s early opener, but it was promptly ruled out for offside.
    And the new-look VAR confirmed it – but it did not look like the technology used in the Premier League.
    Instead of normal pictures of the game, the VAR displayed a computerised graphic which showed Aubameyang to be offside.
    READ MORE ON CHELSEA
    One astonished fan said: “Omg is this semi automated VAR in this Chelsea game?? That was amazing.”
    Another added: “Wow that offside graphic shown from the VAR review is really cool.”
    A third said: “The VAR graphics in this Chelsea game are next level & its 100 times better 👍🏻👍🏻.”
    While a fellow football supporter referred to Chelsea’s fortunate VAR decision against West Ham and added: “The English VAR can save Chelsea in the Premier League but not in the Champions League!”
    Most read in Football
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BETTING OFFER – GET £50 BACK AS CASH
    Tuchel’s men should have drawn 2-2 with West Ham on Sunday, but for a lucky VAR call.
    Edouard Mendy was adjudged to have been fouled by Jarrod Bowen in the lead-up to Maxwel Cornet’s late equaliser – which led to the goal eventually being ruled out.
    But Chelsea were not on the end of any good fortune in the Champions League as they succumbed to a defeat against Dinamo Zagreb.
    Tuchel now faces the tough task of picking his players back up for the lunchtime kick-off on Saturday when they travel to Fulham. More

  • in

    Watch moment frustrated Gabriel Jesus appears to kick out at Lisandro Martinez in Arsenal loss but missed by ref and VAR

    AFTER VAR had a weekend to forget, new footage has emerged that shows Gabriel Jesus was lucky to escape punishment during Arsenal’s trip to Manchester United.A frustrated Jesus appeared to kick out at United defender Lisandro Martinez five minutes before half-time.
    Look what Gabriel Jesus did to Lisandro Martinez for pocketing him, but Arsenal fans won’t see it because they’re busy crying that Man Utd thrashed them..pic.twitter.com/ZNaWnNASmt— UtdFaithfuls (@UtdFaithfuls) September 5, 2022

    Gabriel Jesus appeared to kick out at Lisandro MartinezCredit: Premier League / beinsports
    Jesus and Martinez were involved in a physical battle throughout the gameCredit: Getty
    Martinez poked fun at Jesus on Instagram after the gameCredit: https://www.instagram.com/lisandromartinezzz
    The pair were involved in a physical battle throughout United’s 3-1 win at home to the Gunners.
    Martinez himself uploaded a picture to Instagram of himself and Tyrell Malacia caught up in a tangle with Jesus, poking fun at the Arsenal man by writing: “My bro @tyrellmalacia.”
    Meanwhile new footage shows Martinez appearing to put his arm across Jesus’ face.
    The Arsenal striker reacted angrily, and seemingly kicked out in Martinez’s direction.
    Read More Arsenal News
    Unfortunately for Jesus, he lost his balance in the process, and was sent tumbling to the ground.
    But the £45million summer signing can consider himself lucky that Martinez did not react to the incident.
    The United defender stayed on his feet after appearing to take a whack in the leg from Jesus.
    Referee Paul Tierney and VAR Lee Mason seemingly failed to spot the incident.
    Most read in Football
    FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
    It’s currently unclear whether Jesus could be handed retrospective punishment.
    A ban can be handed out if the incident wasn’t seen by the on-pitch officials or VAR, but it’s yet to be confirmed if the incident was seen.
    Fans though reckon Jesus could have been in trouble if Martinez had gone to ground.
    One wrote on social media: “If Jesus did that to an experienced player he’s getting a red card for it.”
    Another said: “How is that not a retrospective 3 game ban for violent conduct?”
    And a third wrote: “Funny how Arsenal fans are so quiet on this one!”
    Martinez has made quite the impression since his £55m arrival from Ajax this summer.
    Read More on The Sun
    The Argentine defender was recently named club Player of the Month for August.
    Meanwhile United legend Paul Scholes singled Martinez out for praise and said it would be a “worry” if the 24-year-old got injured. More