VAR

LEEDS fans were left incensed by Andre Marriner’s decision to send off Liam Cooper during their stunning victory over Manchester City.Their skipper was dismissed for a high challenge on Gabriel Jesus, having initially been booked before VAR upgraded the punishment.
Cooper catches Gabriel Jesus’ right kneeCredit: BT Sport
Referee Marriner initially books the 29-year-old but is advised by VAR to have a second lookCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Cooper receives a red cardCredit: Getty
With the West Yorkshire side winning 1-0 just before half-time, Cooper was shown a yellow card for fouling Jesus.
The defender did get the ball but was reckless, catching the Brazilian’s right knee with his studs.
Referee Marriner initially awarded a yellow card for the challenge but was informed by the VAR official to have a second look.
Having watched the slowed-down footage, Marriner upgraded Cooper’s punishment to a red card.

Leeds’ hopes of a shock win against the champions-elect appeared to have gone in the 75th minute when Ferran Torres equalised.
But a 91st minute strike from Stuart Dallas, who scored the opener just moments before Cooper was sent off, secured all three points for the ten men.
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Thats a harsh yellow as its a cracking tackle but a red WTF!— Greg Paterson (@GP) April 10, 2021

That’s 100% a red card. He’s off the ground.— DM (@DavidMeyler) April 10, 2021

Cooper’s dismissal had left Leeds fans fuming on social media, with many claiming he got the ball.
One wrote on Twitter: “Complete and utter joke the state of decisions in this league!”
Another wrote: “Absolute travesty. This isn’t football anymore.”
But others have backed the decision, with one tweeting: “That is so obviously a red card. Ridiculously high, very late.”

Marriner’s verdict was also supported by both Rio Ferdinand and Joleon Lescott, BT Sport’s pundits for the game.
Ferdinand, who played for Leeds between 2000 and 2002, said: “When you come off your feet like that, it [a red card] is the letter of the law… it’s a bad tackle.”
Former City defender Lescott added: “He got a piece of the ball, but there’s no need to tackle like that. It’s a bad tackle and the right decision.”
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THE referee who denied Cristiano Ronaldo’s injury-time goal against Serbia admitted he was ’embarrassed’ and ‘apologised’ for his blunder.Ronaldo, 36, was left furious with Danny Makkelie and his Dutch team of officials when he failed to allow the clear winner.
Cristiano Ronaldo was living with the officials after his winning ‘goal’ was not givenCredit: EPA
Fernando Santos made his feelings clear to Danny Makkelie who later apologisedCredit: AP
The Juventus forward tucked home under the goalkeeper and the ball clearly rolled over the line before Serb skipper Stefan Mitrovic hooked it away – and then saved the rebound.
But with no goal-line technology, the goal did not stand.
Ronaldo let rip at the assistant who did not flag – and was duly booked – but Portugal were left to settle for a 2-2 draw in their World Cup qualifier in Belgrade.
And Fernando Santos, manager of the reigning European champs, revealed Makkelie recognised his costly gaffe.
He told RTP: “We scored a goal that was not given when the ball went in. In a match of this level, that isn’t possible.
“The referee apologised to me in the booth and told me he was embarrassed. I was in the dressing room with him and apologised to me.
“He had told me on the pitch that he was going to see the images and that if it was the case he was calling me to apologise – and so it was.
“I told him on the pitch that there was no VAR or goal-line technology – one of the things he told me was that the goal line was important – but I told him that the ball was half a metre inside the goal.
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Replays showed the ball clearly crossed the line
Cristiano Ronaldo is FUMING! 😡Portugal’s captain stormed off the pitch and threw his armband on the floor after he was denied a last-minute winner against Serbia…😳pic.twitter.com/BlwK9Dlque— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 28, 2021

“There was no obstacle between the goalkeeper and the goal line. [It is a] problem because we drew. We have to rethink.
“The referees are human and make mistakes, but that’s why there is the VAR and the goal-line technology to avoid this.”
With the full-time whistle coming seconds later, Ronaldo ripped off his armband and launched it to the floor then stormed down the tunnel.
The skipper posted a picture of the Portuguese team, for whom Diogo Jota scored twice, on Instagram with the caption: “Being captain of the Portugal team is one of the greatest privileges of my life.
“I always give and will give everything for my country, that will never change.
“But there are difficult times to deal with, especially when we feel that an entire nation is being harmed.
“Lift your head and face the next challenge now! Strength, Portugal.”
Ronaldo threw his captain’s armband to the ground in angerCredit: EPA
Portugal’s players continued their protests after the full-time whistleCredit: AP
Ronaldo was booked for berating the assistant referee who failed to flag for the goalCredit: Getty
He was convinced he had done enough to secure an injury-time winner in BelgradeCredit: Getty

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REFS’ chief Mike Riley has promised Prem clubs that VAR will be “changed and improved” for next season.And Riley’s officials have agreed to undergo extra coaching and training in the summer to ensure VAR is more fit for purpose.
Mike Riley has promised that VAR will be changed and improved next seasonCredit: PA:Empics Sport
The vow by Riley came after Prem chiefs asked all clubs, including managers, and captains, for their feedback on how VAR has worked over the past two seasons.
Clubs were sent video clips of controversial incidents from this season in a bid to get an understanding of how the top flight wants VAR to work.
Crunch calls included the mistaken decision not to send off Everton’s Jordan Pickford for the late lunge that ended Virgil Van Dijk’s season in the Merseyside derby.
VAR was criticised for the apparent inconsistency that saw Arsenal awarded a penalty in the North London derby but Liverpool keeper Alisson not penalised for a similar contact with Wolves’ Nelson Semedo the following day.
There was also the remarkable decision not to award Manchester City’s Phil Foden a penalty when he was clearly tripped by Southampton keeper Alex McCarthy, with it later emerging the VAR match commander had intervened.
It is hoped that the responses of the clubs will allow referee chiefs at PGMOL to apply the Laws more consistently from next term.
Prem chiefs believe that making VAR work in a way that fits the game’s expectations of where and when officials should intervene will help bring about a change in perception of how the video system works.
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VAR has been a controversial subject throughout the Premier League seasonCredit: Reuters
It is unlikely that there will be any changes to offside, however, as the International FA Board has insisted that ideas such as “wider lines” allowing “leeway” for attackers is not compatible with the Laws.
In order to ensure all clubs have their views heard, the deadline for submissions was extended until Wednesday.
That meant that a full discussion of the findings was put off until the next club meeting, which will be before the end of June.

But clubs were told at the latest “shareholder” meeting Riley was planning to present an “action plan” which would outline “changes and improvements” that could be brought in from the start of next term.
And that vow will be boosted by the pledge that all top flight officials and VAR teams will take the extra coaching and training during the summer.
So far this season there have been 99 on-field decisions overturned by VAR, with 30 “goals” disallowed and 22 penalties awarded after intervention from Stockley Park.
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