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    How final Premier League table would look without VAR with Burnley surviving drop and West Ham out of Europe

    BURNLEY would have stayed up, and Leeds relegated, without VAR.SunSport has analysed all the on-field Prem decisions overturned by the video booth at Stockley Park.
    How the final Premier League table would have looked without VAR overturning decisions
    And while the top SIX would have finished in exactly the same order even if VAR did not exist, it would have been a very different situation at the bottom.
    Burnley’s woe at dropping out of the top flight will only be intensified by the study, which assumes that all penalties would have been scored had they been awarded.
    Without VAR intervention, the Clarets would have picked up FOUR more points, enough to take them comfortably clear of the drop zone in 16th place.
    Critical calls went against Burnley in four matches.
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    They  were originally awarded a spot-kick against Arsenal, with the chance to draw level late-on in that game then taken away by a review.
    A Chris Wood “winner” at Leicester was chalked off for offside, while two huge calls in their last two matches – the penalties awarded against Ashley Barnes at Spurs and then Nathan Collins against Newcastle – proved so costly.
    Leeds, by contrast, would have been doomed before their last-day heroics at Brentford.
    The Elland Road side would have won one game fewer, and drawn one more, over the season, leaving them two points worse off and relegated on goal difference behind Southampton.
    How the table ended up looking after Sunday
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    The Saints ended up with four points more than they would have done without the technology being employed.
    Over the entire season, 121 decisions were changed, two fewer than last season.
    A total of 43 goals were disallowed and 39 penalties awarded, with 13 goals given that were initially ruled out and nine penalties waived.
    West Ham, with 10, had the most decisions changed in their favour, while Leicester only had two positive overturns.

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    That, perhaps, explains why the “no VAR” table has the Foxes in the Conference League spot above the Hammers on goal difference, with Leicester five points better off without the Stockley Park calls.
    Relegated Norwich had 11 decisions changed to their detriment, although they would still have finished bottom of the table without VAR, while Liverpool and Southampton were VAR “victims” on just three occasions. More

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    Retiring referee Martin Atkinson reveals ex-Arsenal star Tomas Rosicky was his favourite player to deal with

    PREMIER LEAGUE referee Martin Atkinson revealed Tomas Rosicky was his favourite player to deal with – after the former Arsenal star invited him to ref his testimonial in the Czech Republic. And Atkinson said Alan Stubbs was the toughest player he has officiated, with the Everton hard man “scaring me to death”. 
    Atkinson is a big fan of the former Arsenal favourite after the former midfielder invited him to ref his testimonialCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    Atkinson will hang up his whistle at the end of this season, after 17 years in the Premier League.
    He has many fond memories. But speaking at a Q&A in aid of North East mental health charity If U Care Share, the Prem whistler was asked who he enjoyed reffing most. His answer was Arsenal’s former Czech playmaker.
    Rosicky arrived in North London from Borussia Dortmund in 2006. 
    His 10 year spell with the Gunners was hampered by a series of long-term injuries but he won two FA Cups before leaving for Sparta Prague in 2016 and retiring the next year aged 37.
    And Leeds-fan Atkinson, 51, said: “I’ve been lucky that I’ve got on with the vast majority of players but one that stands out is Tomas Rosicky.
    “I always got on really well with him. We just pleasantly got on, not best mates or owt like that but he was always really respectful. 
    “And when he left Arsenal, when he retired eventually, an unknown email came through and it was from Sparta Prague asking if I will go out and referee his retirement game. 
    “You just never expect that and it was just a nice thing.” 
    Atkinson, a former police officer, made his top-flight bow in the 2004/05 season.  
    And he named burly centre-back Stubbs as the toughest player to try and keep under control. 
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Ronaldo, but now sell luxury watches in Mayfair shop
    Asked who he least enjoyed reffing, Atkinson said: “Alan Stubbs at Everton.
    “He would kick anything that moved, was hard as nails and scared me to death when I first got on.
    “He was just so tough to referee that it was, like, impossible. I learned a lot from that – you learn how to manage players.”
    No-nonsense Everton defender making a beeline for Atkinson in 2007Credit: Alamy More

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    Chelsea star Jorginho explains shocking West Ham penalty miss and blames VAR for making it ‘harder to focus’

    CHELSEA star Jorginho reckons VAR is to blame for his horrendous penalty miss against West Ham.The midfielder, 29, fluffed his lines from the spot in the 86th minute after Craig Dawson was sent off for a foul on Romelu Lukaku.
    Chelsea star Jorginho has blamed VAR for his penalty miss against West HamCredit: Getty
    Jorginho fired off a weak effort after his trademark skip, giving Lukasz Fabianski an easy save.
    And it appeared all hope was lost until sub Christian Pulisic popped up with a dramatic winner moments later.
    Jorginho has now apologised to Chelsea fans and teammates for his poor penalty.
    But the Italian, who won Euro 2020 and the Champions League last year before finishing third in the Ballon d’Or, believes ref Michael Oliver’s lengthy VAR check saw him lose focus.
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    Jorginho said: “This sort of pressure, especially in games like this when you need to win and it’s last minute, and you try to isolate your mind from all that pressure even though it’s hard.
    “And then you have the VAR so it takes longer, it’s harder to keep focus.
    “What you need to do and what I try to do is I try to isolate my mind of all this pressure, and unfortunately this time it didn’t work.
    “When you have that little moment of doubt that’s usually when you make the mistake. Maybe I had too much time to think about it, I don’t know.
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    “This time it went like that and I’m sorry. I feel bad because it’s not a nice feeling.”
    Jorginho is now being linked with a summer move away from Chelsea, with his contract expiring in 2023.
    Juventus are thought to be keen on the playmaker, who is in his fourth term at Stamford Bridge following a £50million switch from Napoli in 2018.
    But Jorginho’s agent Joao Santos insists his client will stay at Chelsea ‘100 per cent’.
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    Steinhaus-Webb says helping Women’s Super League referees cope with intense public scrutiny is crucial

    BIBIANA STEINHAUS-WEBB believes helping elite women’s football referees handle growing scrutiny is vital with officials under the spotlight. And the WSL refs chief thinks the league has the potential to one day lead the way on global officiating standards.
    Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb says helping referees manage the increased scrutiny of their performance is crucialCredit: Reuters
    Steinhaus-Webb, who made history as the first woman to referee in Germany’s Bundesliga, was speaking nine months on from her appointment as PGMOL’s first women’s select group director.
    The Germany-born former referee, who is married to ex-Prem ref Howard Webb, oversees match officials in the WSL and Women’s Championship.
    Referees in the women’s top tier are in the spotlight with fixtures reaching bigger audiences with games aired on Sky Sports and the BBC.
    On occasions, some decisions have led to criticism of officiating along with calls for Premier League standard refereeing.
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    In November Neilsen’s sports research revealed the WSL could become the fourth most viewed domestic league on TV in the UK.
    And with that attention comes greater social media reaction to decisions.
    This includes moments such as a ball deflecting off the referee in the lead-up to a goal for Manchester City during their 1-1 draw with Arsenal in January.
    That scenario is one of a few that led some commentators and club managers to call for improved refereeing.
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    And Steinhaus-Webb highlights this as an example of why helping officials whose decisions are heavily scrutinised is so important.
    The PGMOL women’s select group director said: “The psychological support around them is crucial at the moment, especially at the moment because the referees are not used to it.
    “We had a situation at Manchester City vs Arsenal when the referee was hit by the ball, and a few seconds after City scored.
    “Abi Byrne was the referee and we spoke about this incident for days after.
    “Abi is an international referee with a really strong mentality and a huge amount of experience.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}OLD TRAFFORD TUSSLE .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Man Utd ready to host Fury’s undisputed bout with Joshua or Usyk
    “A few days after this game she said to me, ‘Bibi, you know what? I know that the exposure of the women’s game is so huge.
    “But this is the first time I can feel it. I can feel being recognised. Like being at the store the next day, and (people saying) ‘oh, I saw you on TV yesterday.’
    “She hasn’t done anything wrong, and this is the crazy bit.
    “You can discuss this situation for hours and hours — what is the best solution here? What do we expect the next time?
    “She was hit by the ball but then it just developed into an attacking situation.
    Referees’ decisions in the WSL have come in for greater attention with games getting more TV coverageCredit: Reuters
    “From a technical point of view, she did everything correct — she let play continue.
    “Going through this, the scrutiny, that was the first time she really realised how much exposure the game actually has.
    “And we are talking about a situation where we might have a totally different outcome because of a referee.
    “What we do is take care of our people. They are human beings, and we have to make sure they are ready to take approximately 300 decisions in every game.”
    Rebecca Welch is one of four English officials selected for duty at the Euros this summerCredit: Getty
    “We have regular meetings – not only in the different parts of the country where the officials come from- but we also we have our PGMOL conference (in June).
    “That’s when all the officials from the Premier League, the EFL and 40 of my girls from the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship come together.
    “These are the opportunities for all of the officials to get to know each other better and to speak about the challenges they are facing.”
    The potential use of VAR and goal-line technology in the women’s top tier has been a topical issue this season.
    In February EFL and WSL officials held discussions with PGMOL reps over the adoption of a low cost, light version of a video assistant referee.
    In England we are not only watching WSL examples. You have to a look around what happens in the rest of the world when it comes to refereeingBibiana Steinhaus-Webb
    However, a timescale for when a system could be introduced is yet to be confirmed.
    Steinhaus-Webb added: “We can discuss VAR lite, we can discuss VAR, and first of all it’s a question for the competition: Where do you want to put your investment in?
    “How do you prioritise? Do you want to grow the game and have more spectators first before you go [for] technology?
    “If one of the answers is ‘yes, we want more technology in the game, to support the referees’, then (there are) a lot of questions around how many cameras, which venues, how can we do it, what do we need?
    “We are in close contact with the competition department with the league, to discover all of the possible opportunities for the future. It’s (a case of) wait and see really.”.
    Steinhaus-Webb believes more training for match officials in the WSL could one day see the league lead the way on refereeing in women’s football.
    And she believes sharing ideas on best practices with counterparts in other countries is important.
    The former Bundesliga ref added: “Progressing in our own country is important and efficient and should be our focus.
    “But that being said, you have to a look around what happens in the rest of the world when it comes to refereeing.
    “In England, we are not only watching WSL examples we are also watching international examples, what happens all around the world.
    Steinhaus-Webb believes the WSL may one day set standards for match officiating internationallyCredit: Getty
    “We’ve been invited by the refereeing department in Germany to look at their new academy and refereeing strategy.
    “We discussed different things that work well
    “With the WSL we probably have one of the strongest leagues in the world, if not the strongest competition.
    “Give us a little bit more time and we will be leading the way on international officiating standards.” More

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    Man Utd outraged after Middlesbrough equalise despite clear Duncan Watmore handball.. even AFTER VAR check

    MANCHESTER UNITED were left fuming after Middlebrough equalised at Old Trafford – despite a blatant but crucially accidental handball. The ball clearly bounced up off sub Duncan Watmore’s hand as he controlled it in the penalty box.
    Duncan Watmore was not penalised despite a blatant handballCredit: Getty
    Manchester United complained to referee Anthony Taylor but their moans fell on deaf earsCredit: Getty

    Anthony Taylor did not blow his whistle, though.
    And knowing if he scored with his next touch the goal would be ruled out, the Middlesbrough striker lifted the ball over Dean Henderson but off target.
    Matt Crooks, a team-mate of Watmore’s in the United academy, carried on and arrived at the back post to slam in to make it 1-1 in their FA Cup fourth-round clash.
    However, United players, staff and fans could not believe the goal was allowed to stand – especially after a VAR review.
    Even Boro’s bench look bemused it was not ruled out.
    But like Taylor on the field, VAR Stuart Attwell adjudged the handball to be accidental – because the ball came off the player’s body onto his arm.
    And as Watmore didn’t score, the Championship side levelled, to the delight of the 9,443 travelling fans.
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    The change in the wording of the laws of the game last summer meant it could not be overruled.
    The update, explained on the Premier League website, says: “If an attacking player’s accidental handball immediately precedes another player scoring, the goal will now be awarded, when last season it was likely to have been ruled out.
    “However, a player will still be penalised if he commits an accidental handball immediately before scoring himself.”
    Apoplectic Cristiano Ronaldo led the angry protests with his United team-mates as they surrounded ref Taylor.
    But their complaints came to nothing and the goal was given.
    United legend Rio Ferdinand and rested goalkeeper David De Gea were having none of it.
    Ferdinand tweeted: “What’s the point of VAR…” followed by a poo emoji.
    De Gea shared the post and simply added a shocked emoji.

    And Alex Bruce was having none of it.
    The former United youth-team defender and Hull City stalwart fumed on BBC Radio: “You can clearly see Duncan Watmore, the ball has popped up and hit his hand as he sets it up.
    “It hits his hand, oh my gosh he has given the goal. I don’t believe it.
    “You can clearly see as the ball comes into the box!”
    Lee Dixon added on ITV: “Watmore’s touch wasn’t the best and he controls it with his hand.
    “It has to be given as handball. If that was a defender it would be a penalty.”
    Gary Lineker added on Twitter: “The right decision given the absurdity of the law. Clearly accidental but If he’d scored himself it would have been disallowed.
    “The handball law used to be fine. They’ve made it ridiculous.”
    The decision proved crucial as Middlesbrough held on for penalties.
    Anthony Elanga missed after 15 successful spot-kicks as the Red Devils crashed out.
    Watmore lifted the ball over Dean Henderson as Harry Maguire appealed for handballCredit: Getty
    Matt Crooks carried on and slid in at the back post with the goal emptyCredit: AP
    Crooks celebrated the goal in front of the 9,443 away fans at Old TraffordCredit: Getty More

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    Scared Premier League refs chicken out of ALL 49 VAR monitor checks this season

    PREMIER LEAGUE refs feel under pressure to accept VAR overturns – even if they are convinced they got the original decision right.Worried officials fear that if they stand by their own calls they could face punishment from bosses.
    Referee Kevin Friend checked the VAR screen during the weekend’s Prem clash between Liverpool and Crystal PalaceCredit: PA
    After consulting the replay Friend awarded Liverpool a disputed penaltyCredit: AFP
    The decision did not go down well with the home fans at Selhurst ParkCredit: Getty
    Ref’s bosses have conceded Liverpool’s controversial penalty at Crystal Palace should NOT have been awarded after Diogo Jota ran into keeper Vicente Guaita.
    But Kevin Friend’s U-turn after the intervention of VAR ref Craig Pawson was part of a pattern, and SunSport can reveal there have been 49 recommended monitor overturns in England’s top flight this season.
    Unlike last term, when referees stuck with their original calls on five occasions, this campaign ALL 49 decisions have been changed after a trip to the touchline.
    That is a direct result of the instruction from Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) at the start of the season, when officials were told the “higher threshold” for interventions meant refs would only be told to go to the monitor when they have made a clear error.
    One source said: “It was made quite clear to the referees that they were expected to change their minds if they were told to perform an on field review.
    “The final decision is always down to them but if a change is recommended, they know that they are expected to follow that advice.”
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    Last season, referees went to the monitor on 87 occasions and agreed to change 82 of their decisions, with five situations in which they stuck with their original call.
    SunSport columnist and former Prem ref Mark Halsey revealed he had been told that officials were under orders to accept VAR recommendations this term.
    PGMOL sources insist that there is more of an “expectation” that the VAR calls will be upheld after refs’ chief Mike Riley told officials to implement a “high bar”.
    One insider explained: “The higher threshold for offences was brought in which means overturns shouldn’t be recommended unless it is a clear error.
    “So when any referee is told to go to the monitor now, he expects it is because he has plainly got it wrong and is looking for confirmation of that. We still think that’s the right approach.”
    Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira slams ref for ‘bad game’ vs Liverpool More

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    EFL Carabao Cup VAR rules: Will League Cup use Video Assistant Referee this season?

    The Carabao Cup has reached the quarter-final stage, but will VAR be making an appearance?The video referee system has proved controversial in the Premier League so far this season once again.
    VAR has become a regular feature in English footballCredit: PA:Press Association
    Does the Carabao Cup have VAR?
    From the semi-final stage up to the final, VAR WILL be used in the Carabao Cup.
    But it will NOT be used in rounds up to the semi-finals this season.
    VAR was used in the Carabao Cup in 2018/19 but the EFL opted to get rid of the system last season on the grounds that it was only being used at Premier League venues.
    This caused particular controversy in the FA Cup when Man City were given a controversial penalty at Swansea and no VAR was allowed to be used even though the Liberty Stadium had the system installed.
    @font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:500;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-stretch:semi-condensed;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:normal;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:condensed;font-display:swap;}.css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-zkaekv{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-zkaekv::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -1px);}.css-zkaekv::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Most Read in Football.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
    What decisions is VAR used for?
    THE video assistant referee can be called upon for four key on-field incidents. 
    These are:

    Awarding goals
    Penalty decisions
    Red card decisions
    Cases of mistaken identity

    How does VAR work?
    THE video assistant referee will liaise with the on-pitch referee to relay information on calls.
    The video assistant referee – a top official who will be based at Stockley Park for the matches – has access to every camera angle and goal-line technology cameras.
    The VAR also has an assistant watching the game with them. More

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    Brighton 1 Newcastle 1: Hayden grabs equaliser in front of Eddie Howe as Dunk ends game in goal following Sanchez red

    IT IS a curious old job Eddie Howe has inherited. He is the new manager of the wealthiest club on Earth and of the only club in English professional football without a win this season.  
    Isaac Hayden was the saviour for Newcastle with his second-half equaliserCredit: Getty
    Lewis Dunk ended the game in goal after Robert Sanchez was sent offCredit: Reuters
    Even in the build-up to this match, it was suggested that Howe – infamous for his reluctance to accept job offers during and after his reign at Bournemouth – might pull out of a deal to succeed Steve Bruce at Newcastle.  
    Yet Howe and his assistant Jason Tindall were sitting next to Geordie Arabia’s figurehead Amanda Staveley in the Amex Stadium directors box, with a contract agreed and a deal set to be announced. 
    And when Isaac Hayden rescued an unlikely point to lift Newcastle off the bottom of the Premier League table, Howe was beaming widely.  
    It might have been even better news for the in-coming boss when Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez was sent off in injury-time, with Lewis Dunk forced into goal for eight minutes of injury-time. 
    Typically, though, Newcastle were unable to test the stand-in keeper, who did not have to touch the ball once he had taken Sanchez’s shirt.
    And they ended up with an unwanted club record of an 11-match winless start to a season.

    BETTING SPECIAL – GET SALAH TO SCORE AND LIVERPOOL TO WIN AT 40/1
    It has been a chaotic start for Staveley and her Saudi overlords – not short of embarrassment on or off the pitch.
    But in Howe, Newcastle have landed a very decent manager, with one footballing miracle already on his CV.
    Back in 2011, Howe saved Bournemouth from relegation from the Football League despite a 17-point deduction and then led from the basement division to the Premier League.
    It would not exactly be miraculous to save Newcastle from the drop this season – especially as they will surely invest heavily in the January window.
    But until the market opens, and the cavalry arrives, every point is precious for a team which currently looks like absolute relegation fodder.
    Upcoming home matches against Brentford, Norwich and Burnley will go a long way to deciding whether Newcastle are in a bleak or a hopeful position by the team the Saudis can start spraying the cash about.
    Brighton were the better team for the majority of this match but they could only manage a controversial Leandro Trossard penalty and were made to pay for their inability to turn dominance into clear-cut chances.
    Graham Potter – who is what Howe was a few years ago, the next big thing in English football management – has done a fine job on the south coast but there have been too many matches like this when Brighton have lacked the killer touch.
    HOWE WAS THAT
    In midweek, it had seemed certain that Unai Emery would be in the visitors’ dugout for this match but the Villarreal boss got spooked by the lack of professionalism from the new St James’ Park regime and opted to remain in Spain.
    So it was back to Howe, pictured alongside Staveley before kick-off, having just heard that Norwich’s win at Brentford had sent his new club rock-bottom.
    Howe did witness a bright start, one sharp break ending with Miguel Almiron angling a pass for Jacob Murphy, who dragged a shot wide.
    Brighton barely threatened before their fortuitous opener midway through the first half.
    From a corner, Trossard appeared to be looking for a penalty, going down too easily after a slight tug of the shirt and a nibble of the boot from Ciaran Clark.
    Ref David Coote was not interested at first glance but, like so many, it was one of those incidents which look far more incriminating in slow motion.
    So when Coote was sent to the touchline monitor by his VAR Craig Pawson, he did the old Lionel Blair tribute TV gesture and pointed to the spot.
    Trossard, who had scored in last week’s draw at Liverpool, went straight down the middle to beat Karl Darlow.
    Eddie Howe was in the stands at the Amex alongside Jason Tindall and Amanda StaveleyCredit: PA
    Ciaran Clark fouled Leandro Trossard for the Brighton penaltyCredit: Getty
    Trossard scored from the spot to fire Brighton in frontCredit: Alamy
    It was harsh on Newcastle but it lifted the Seagulls and Joel Veltman soon flashed a centre across the face of goal, with Tariq Lamptey and Trossard diving in but neither getting a touch.
    The travelling Toon Army were soon getting restless, urging ‘attack, attack, attack!’ but their heroes were unable to oblige.
    Adam Lallana was making things tick in the Brighton midfield and the superior teamwork of Potter’s men was beginning to show.
    Potter sent on Alexis Mac Allister in place of Enock Mwepu at the break and Lallana was soon releasing Trossard for a shot which was saved at the near post by Darlow.
    Trossard then picked out Marc Cucurella, who headed wide across the face of goal.
    Then the best move of the match – an Ederson-esque pass from Brighton keeper Sanchez, a gorgeous take-down from Cucurella and Trossard cutting back for Lallana to shoot narrowly wide.
    But Brighton failed to capitalise on their dominance and, pretty much out of the blue, Newcastle were level midway through the second half.
    Matt Ritchie delivered a deep cross from the left, Clark headed back and Hayden rifled home – sending caretaker boss Graeme Jones into wild celebration on the touchline.
    Then the late drama as Sanchez raced out of his goal and clipped Callum Wilson’s heel – the VAR again sending Coote to his monitor before he delivered the red card.
    Hayden fired the ball low into the ground past Robert Sanchez and Tariq Lamptey on the lineCredit: Reuters
    Referee David Coote made two big decisions after going over to check the VAR monitorCredit: Getty
    Sanchez was red-carded after a VAR check for denying Callum Wilson’s obvious goalscoring opportunityCredit: Reuters
    Graham Potter’s side started well but allowed the visitors to get back into the gameCredit: PA
    Eddie Howe joins Amanda Staveley at the AMEX to watch Newcastle play Brighton More