VAR

THE Premier League have released a statement clarifying the offside debate surrounding Son Heung-min’s goal against Liverpool.
South Korean star Son’s controversial first-half equaliser looked to have earned Spurs a draw at Anfield following Mohamed Salah’s opener.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp claimed Son Heung-min was offside

Roberto Firmino ultimately powered home a 90th minute header to see the Reds leapfrog their visitors at the top of the table with a 2-1 win.
But much of the post-match analysis still focused on Son – who had appeared from the naked eye to be offside in the buildup to his goal.
Yet a VAR check determined the 28-year-old was marginally level before he received the ball and finished clinically past Liverpool stopper Alisson.
Many fans questioned why in this particular instance the 3D crosshair lines were not used as they have been for most tight calls this season.

And the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have now released a statement to explain why that was the case.
It read: “In the 33rd minute of Liverpool vs. Spurs, Son Heung-min scored for Spurs, the goal was checked for a possible offside by VAR.
“The calibrated line was drawn from Liverpool defender Rhys Williams’ furthest point forward, his left foot, which showed that Son was behind him when the ball was played.
“As both player’s feet were the furthest point forward and planted on the ground, the 3D crosshair lines were not required.”

Despite the referees ruling the goal would stand, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp still insisted that Son was offside.
He said: “For me, it is offside [the Spurs goal], they watch it 20 times, but when I saw it, it is offside.
“There is nobody to blame, the best way to defend Tottenham is to keep the ball all the time.”

Jurgen Klopp says it was a massive three points against Tottenham after last minute 2-1 win More

CHELSEA legend Peter Cech wants a SECOND goal line to give keepers a chance after VAR ordered another spot-kick retake for encroachment.
West Ham stopper Lukasz Fabianski saved Leeds midfielder Mateusz Klich’s first penalty on Friday night only to be adjudged to have moved off his line before the ball was struck.

West Ham’s Lukasz Fabianski was ruled to have moved off his line too soon by VAR

Fabianski saved Mateusz Klich’s first penalty but couldn’t stop the secondCredit: Getty – Pool

Chelsea legend Petr Cech had his say on what should be done to give keepers a fair chanceCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The decision looked extremely marginal and Polish ace Klich took full advantage of his second chance to dispatch the ball past his countryman.
Retired former Blues No1 Cech – who was a shock inclusion as an emergency stand-in in Frank Lampard’s Premier League squad – had his say on the debate and offered his own solution.
Alongside a photo of Fabianski’s feet over the line on Instagram, Cech wrote: “How is any goalkeeper supposed to cover an area of 7m 32cm by 2m 44cm without any foot movement while a player shoots from 12 yards with an average speed of 70 mph, which takes the ball 0.35 seconds to cross the goal line is beyond my understanding…
“It’s easy to criticise without giving any solutions so here it is.

“CAN THE REFEREE JUST MAKE A SECOND LINE 4 FEET FROM THE GOAL LINE USING THE SPRAY AND THE PENALTY HAS TO BE SAVED IN BETWEEN? 🤷🏽‍♂️”
Klich’s effort put Leeds ahead after Patrick Bamford was fouled by Fabianski but VAR’s controversial intervention had no impact on the final result.
The Hammers fought back from going a goal down after six minutes to win 2-1 at Elland Road.
However, boss David Moyes was not completely satisfied and urged for a clarification of the rules.

Caballero and Cech are the oldest players in the Premier League

He said: “You might as well let the referees talk about it. We played really well tonight but until we get the rules sorted out I don’t think I’m gonna be too happy, but it doesn’t matter what I say.
“Maybe there will be more influential managers that can make a difference with what they say.
“It is probably better for you to discuss it because we are not discussing the football anymore, you’re discussing VAR decision all the time so you are better asking me about the football so that I can answer those the best I can.”
Fans on social media were similarly raging at the call – with many even pointing out that Bamford was clearly inside the box before the ball was struck for the second penalty.
One said: “Fabianski gets punished for being 1mm off his line. But Bamford is allowed meters in the box for the 2nd pen VAR OUT!
Another added: “If Fabianski is punished for coming off his line by an inch why isn’t this encroachment into the box pulled back? There’s no consistency. Destroying the game.”
A third fumed: “Fabianski has his heel on the line retake, Bamford on the pen spot when the retake is taken not even checked, no one can tell me VAR/ the muppets using it our doing there job.”
Chelsea’s technical exec Cech has released a Christmas single in aid of chairty in which he stars on the drums and Wycome boss Gareth Ainsworth lends his vocals.
⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge

Petr Cech’s Christmas single for charity with Chelsea legend on drums More

WEST BROM midfielder Matheus Pereira was sent off for kicking out at Patrick van Aanholt during the Baggies’ 5-1 thrashing by Crystal Palace.
The Brazilian lost his head at the Hawthorns after 34 minutes and was shown a red card after a lengthy VAR check.

Matheus Pereira was sent off for this kick on Patrick van Aanholt

Palace left-back Van Aanholt caught Pereira, 24, with a late challenge midway inside the Eagles’ half.
But on the way down, Pereira kicked out with both feet and his right one caught the Dutchman on the hip.
Van Aanholt, 30, did not make a meal of it but clutched his midriff as he walked back into position
And while play was stopped, VAR Michael Oliver recommended Paul Tierney check the pitch side monitor.

After watching the replay four times at a variety of speeds and angles, Tierney strode over and ordered Pereira off the pitch.
The Baggies were level at the time after Conor Gallagher had cancelled out Darnell Furlong’s own-goal which had given the visitors the lead after eight minutes.
But Slaven Bilic’s men completely lost the plot after half-time and conceded FOUR times to lose 5-1.
Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke both scored twice as Roy Hodgson’s men ran riot.

Not being biased but he doesn’t actually kick out! His legs are up in the air from falling and very slight movement towards the player 🤷🏼‍♂️
— Jamie Thatcher 💭 (@JamieThatcher1) December 6, 2020

Fans were split after the incident with Darren Hanmer tweeting: “Never a red card. Inconsistencies again with VAR.”
Benjamin simply wrote: “Definitely is.”
And Cam sat on the fence and said: “Bit of a tough one but can see why he’s given it.”
VAR was at the centre of another huge controversy on Saturday when Paul Pogba’s goal against West Ham was not ruled out despite the ball clearly going out of play in the build up.
The Red Devils had gone 1-0 down at the London Stadium before Pogba levelled with a stunning, controlled strike from range after 65 minutes.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team eventually won 3-1 but they were helped on their way by Pogba’s equaliser which should have been ruled out.

Dean Henderson’s ball clearly went out for a throw in.
The clearance curled out of play before eventually finding Bruno Fernandes, who teed up Pogba.
Fans inside the ground were shown a sign which read: “VAR checking goal, possible ball out of play.”
But somehow officials made another huge gaffe and the goal stood.
Match of the Day technology later revealed that the ball had gone out of play – by a clear margin.
Pundit Danny Murphy said: “You can see there Gary (Lineker), the linesman wasn’t actually looking up at the ball.”
And West Ham manager David Moyes, called it a ‘poor decision’ after the match.

David Moyes is adamant that the ball appeared to go out of play for Man Utd goal More

JAMIE CARRAGHER joked that Gary Neville was a ‘milk monitor’ in his school days for backing VAR offside calls.
The pundits clashed on Monday Night Football over how technology is changing refereeing decisions.

Jamie Carragher teased his Sky Sports colleague for acting like a ‘milk monitor’

Gary Neville insisted offside calls will ‘always’ be tight when reviewed by VAR

Aston Villa’s defeat at West Ham came after Ollie Watkins’ late equaliser was ruled out by a tight offside call.
Dean Smith was unhappy when VAR officials measured two defenders against the Villa striker but did not check for a potential penalty against him.
Back in the studio, Manchester United legend Neville, 45, had little sympathy for offside calls being a matter of inches.
Carragher asked his colleague: “So you don’t mind people being given offside by an inch?”

Neville replied: “It will always be an inch – it will always be an inch offside.”
To which Carragher, 42, shot back: “I bet he was the milk monitor at school.”
West Ham won the game 2-1, thanks in part to the decision, and Neville felt that sport often comes down to these fine details.
He continued: “It was always an inch.

Aston Villa were left fuming with the offside call against Ollie WatkinsCredit: Sky Sports

The Premier League side also felt a penalty shout had been ignored in Monday’s defeat to West Ham

“Precision in sport, it’s right. Whether it’s a 100-metre race or a Grand National, it can be [won] by inches.”
Liverpool hero Carragher railed against VAR during the discussion and stated that referees had become ‘obsessed’ with certain decisions.
He declared: “This was brought in to help referees, and we were all calling for it, because referees need help.
“I actually think in some ways, it’s exposed referees. I don’t think it’s been as big a help to them.
“They’re having a second look at incidents and they’re so obsessed with something that they don’t see the bigger picture.
“It’s the pressure of looking at something, they’re so obsessed with looking for that offside and getting the lines right that they miss the foul.

When the referee goes to the screen he isn’t checking a mistake, he is getting told by Stockley Park where the infringement is.
Jamie Carragher

“I don’t think it’s been a massive help for them and this nonsense of going to the screen has got to stop.
“I know for a fact, when the referee goes to the screen he is not looking if he has made a mistake, he is getting told by Stockley Park where the infringement is.”
Neville insisted that issues are down to referees’ lack of confidence in themselves – with baffling decisions emphasised by recent rule changes.
The change in the handball law has meant offsides are measured against shirt sleeves, as was the case in Watkins’ disallowed goal.
He added: “Going to the screen isn’t the problem.
“What’s happening now is referees’ authority is being questioned, their credibility is being questioned and they are even doubting themselves.
“The referees going to the screen is not the problem, the referees going to the screen and not sticking with the decision if it’s right is the problem.
“It’s the application of technology that is the big problem at this moment in time.

“Or the rule itself – the handball rule is a nonsense, the offside rule about the arm is a nonsense. Those two rules need changing.
“At that point VAR will become more acceptable.
“And the referees, when they go over to the screen, they have to have the nerve to say to that guy in Stockley Park: No.”

Crystal Palace star Andros Townsend wants the Premier League to scrap VAR now More

PETER CROUCH blasted VAR after Brighton were awarded a last-gasp penalty against Liverpool.
Referee Stuart Attwell pointed to the spot after going to the pitchside monitor to review a previously unseen piece of contact between Andy Robertson and Danny Welbeck.

Peter Crouch was not impressed after VAR awarded Brighton a late penalty against Liverpool

In clearing the ball, Robertson had clipped Brighton newboy Welbeck, prompting Atwell to award a penalty which Pascal Gross duly converted to snatch a late 1-1 draw for the Seagulls.
Speaking on BT Sport, Crouch said: “I don’t like it, I am not a fan of it at all.
“In the speed of the game I don’t think Brighton would have had any complaints at all.
“But when you slow it down and look at it forensically it is a penalty. Welbeck gets there first and there is contact.

“But in the cold light of day without the replay we would have just played on.”
Joe Cole echoed his BT colleague’s sentiments: “With offside it is black and white, but for situations like that, I didn’t even see Welbeck calling for it, but it is a penalty.”
Crouch added: “Ten years ago it happens and we move on as there is not as much scrutiny.
“But today, the referee goes over to the screen and he makes his decision.”

Brighton manager Graham Potter conceded after the game: “It wasn’t the most stonewall penalty I’ve seen.”
Liverpool also saw two goals ruled out after offside reviews, only adding to manager Jurgen Klopp’s frustrations.
Former referee Peter Walton admitted he has found VAR’s usage in the Premier League confusing.
Walton said: “I’ve got to recalibrate my thinking.
“VAR was brought in for clear and obvious errors, just because there is contact, it doesn’t mean it is a foul. 
“You can clearly see there is contact and you can give the penalty for that but the point I am trying to make is does VAR need to intervene for that?
“You should be refereeing in the context of the game.”

Peter Crouch brutally mocks Man Utd’s penalty count and Arsenal’s empty Emirates alongside wife Abbey Clancy in ad More