VAR

Subterms

    More stories

    • 238 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      West Ham 3 Fulham 1: Hammers lucky to snatch much-needed three points after controversial VAR call for Scamacca winner

      by

      THE PETULANCE of Andreas Pereira will be giving Marco Silva a few sleepless nights – just as much as another farcical VAR intervention.A stunning early solo effort from Fulham’s Pereira had him running into his manager’s arms – but will want to keep his distance after giving West Ham a route back into the game.
      Gianluca Scamacca kept his cool to lob Bernd Leno for the winnerCredit: Getty
      Fulham were convinced the ball brushed off his hand as he controlled itCredit: Internal Comms
      Scamacca wheeled away to celebrate after a lengthy VAR callCredit: PA
      Having been warned not once but twice to not tangle with Craig Dawson in the box at a corner, Pereira decided to tackle him to the ground as Jarrod Bowen scored from the spot.
      It was a moment that sparked the Hammers’ game into life through the brilliant Lucas Paqueta and Gianluca Scamacca as they combined to give their side the lead after the break.
      Yet Silva was left pulling his hair out for a second time as VAR’s lengthy delay on a potential handball by Scamacca shows the video officials still don’t know what “clear and obvious” is.
      Not that David Moyes will care, especially after Michail Antonio wrapped things up off the bench to take advantage of some comical Cottagers defending.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      Two league wins on the bounce for the first time since January is just what the doctor ordered for a Hammers team on the up after a rocky start.
      And for the second time in a week, Moyes made nine changes to his starting line-up, having done the same for their Europa Conference League clash away at Anderlecht.
      Scamacca, Paqueta and Declan Rice came off the bench in Brussels to inspire their side to a late winner – and all three regained their places back on home soil.
      Silva made four alterations from the 4-1 humbling at the hands of Newcastle last weekend.
      Most read in Football
      Nathaniel Chalobah served his suspension following his early red card against the Toon, while Aleksandar Mitrovic missed out with a foot injury. Carlos Vinicius instead led the line.
      And while Palhinha and Antonee Robinson returned to the side, Bobby De Cordova-Reid made the drastic switch from left winger to right-back.
      But the Cottagers did not start like a side who had just shipped four goals at home, and were in front after just five minutes thanks to a sumptuous strike of their own.
      West Ham themselves began with a confidence that has been missing so far this season, and were caught with too many bodies forward as Declan Rice lost control of a ball in midfield.
      Bowen’s slip allowed Neeskens Kebano to scamper away and feed Pereira down the left with only Kurt Zouma to beat but a seemingly-impossible angle.
      The Brazilian international made a goal possible with the sweetest of hits that skimmed the face of Lukasz Fabianski and into the far top corner.
      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      Soon after, Dan James stepped in off his right wing and curled a beauty on to Fabianski’s crossbar when it looked to be dipping just below it.
      But coming off the back of two wins in all competitions in five days, Moyes’ men look to be made of sterner stuff and mounted a response through the brilliant Paqueta.
      The Samba playmaker announced his £36.4m arrival from Lyon in the summer by posing atop the London Stadium – and today it appeared the pitch belonged to his magic feet.
      Andreas Pereira blasted in the opener after just five minutesCredit: Rex
      Pereira protested his innocence after giving the penalty awayCredit: Reuters
      Jarrod Bowen made no mistake from the penalty spotCredit: Getty
      Paqueta started to impose himself after 15 minutes, serving up two delicious balls into Scamacca only for the Italian to have one header saved by Bernd Leno and drag another shot wide.
      The misses aside, Moyes would have been delighted by the link-up between his two new signings – and both were involved in the build-up before they were awarded a penalty.
      Paqueta wriggled out of a tight spot and found Pablo Fornals out wide. Aaron Cresswell’s cross then picked out an unmarked Scamacca whose header again was met by Leno.
      A corner was won as Bowen’s rebound attempt was blocked, only for Pereira to begin a wrestling match with Dawson three times in the space of 20 seconds.
      It was the easiest decision of the afternoon for Kavanagh, booking Pereira – not that it stopped him complaining for the next ten minutes.
      Bowen sent Leno the wrong way to make it two goals in his last two Prem games having grabbed his first of the season last Saturday against Wolves.
      Marco Silva ranted at the fourth official as key decisions went against himCredit: PA
      Michail Antonio made it 3-1 late on to wrap up the winCredit: Getty
      West Ham made it three wins on the bounce in all competitionsCredit: Getty
      For a team that has struggled to hit the net since the back end of last year, their forward options are now in red-hot form – as Scamacca proved in the 62nd minute.
      Yet again, Paqueta was involved to loop a ball that caught out Fulham’s entire backline, allowing Scamacca to control and then lob Leno.
      His celebrations were muted, perhaps knowing he may have been offside and also brushed the ball with the knuckles on his right hand before finishing.
      VAR intervened, quickly deducing he was onside before spending an agonising near-three minutes debating whether the ball had been handled, preferring not to send Kavanagh to the monitor.
      Read More on The Sun
      With the naked eye, it was impossible to say with clarity, but Silva was booked for his animated touchline reaction to the goal finally being given.
      Antonio bundled a third home in injury time thanks to some laughable attempts to stop him, not that Silva will have a smile on his face in the coming days.
      Here’s how the drama unfolded at the London Stadium…

      Load more entries… More

    • 238 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Thiago Silva escapes red card for slapping ball away just moments before setting up Chelsea goal against Crystal Palace

      by

      FOOTBALL fans were left baffled after Thiago Silva was not sent off for a deliberate handball against Crystal Palace.The Chelsea defender put his arm out and purposely swatted the ball away from Jordan Ayew with Palace on the attack.
      Thiago Silva was not sent off for this challenge on Jordan AyewCredit: https://twitter.com/talkSPORT/status/1576219407252324353
      Silva was shown a yellow card for his handballCredit: AFP
      The incident occurred when Silva, 38, hit the deck under a challenge from Ayew.
      He thought he should have had a free-kick, but when the whistle didn’t come he used his hand to push the ball away from Ayew’s feet.
      With the striker looking like he was through on goal, the home crowd expected Silva to be shown a red card.
      But to the dismay of Selhurst Park, referee Chris Kavanagh only brandished a yellow in Silva’s direction.
      Read More On Chelsea
      VAR did check the incident to see if Silva denied a goal scoring opportunity, but stuck with Kavanagh’s on field decision.
      Fans couldn’t believe Silva wasn’t given his march orders, with one writing on social media: “Clear red card for Thiago Silva.”
      Another said: “How has Thiago Silva stayed on. That’s the clearest red you’ll ever see and VAR checked it.”
      A third added: “That was 10000% a red on Thiago Silva.”
      Most read in Football
      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      And a fourth wrote: “How did VAR look at that play and not give Thiago Silva a red?”
      Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish fumed on Twitter: “Honestly what is the point of #var we chop and change every week what it does what it thinks.
      “#Var must surely think that’s a red but not a ‘clear’ error! Even if it’s not a #dogso [denying a goal scoring opportunity] which it is He handballs it twice deliberately, one we play on so two yellows!”
      To make matters worse for Palace, Silva then got the assist for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s equaliser.
      The veteran defender headed the ball into the striker’s path for him to slam home past Vincente Guaita.
      Earlier in the game Odsonne Edouard had scored to put the home side ahead as the Graham Potter regime continued to get off to a stuttering start. More

    • 213 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

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

      by

      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

    • 263 Shares119 Views

      in Soccer

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

      by

      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

    • 188 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

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

      by

      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

    • 263 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

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

      by

      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

    • 213 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

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

      by

      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

    • 163 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

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

      by

      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