Video Assistant Referee causes controversy every week in the Premier League, but how are decisions made, and are they correct?
After each weekend we take a look at the major incidents, to examine and explain the process both in terms of VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game.
– How VAR decisions affected every Prem club in 2022-23
– VAR in the Premier League: Ultimate guide
JUMP TO: Wolves 3-0 Liverpool | Everton 1-0 Arsenal | Spurs 1-0 Man City | Newcastle 1-1 West Ham | Brighton 1-0 Bournemouth | Forest 1-0 Leeds
Possible red card: Casemiro for violent conduct against Hughes
What happened: In the 67th minute, Jeff Schlupp fouled Antony close to the touch-line, and a melee ensued between the two sets of players. There was a lot of pushing and shoving, with referee Andre Marriner booking the Crystal Palace player for the foul and the Manchester United forward for his reaction. The VAR, Tony Harrington, looked through the incident in case the referee had missed anything, and advised a red-card review against Casemiro after the midfielder was shown to have both hands around the neck of Will Hughes.
VAR decision: Red card.
VAR review: When a referee is sent to the monitor, he is being told he should change his decision, rather than take a second look. So for all incidents, the VAR will show the referee the most incriminating evidence, because the role of the monitor is to effectively confirm the overturn. That’s why we so seldom see the referee reject the VAR’s advice. The referee remains in control of the process, and can request additional angles to confirm the decision.
VAR review: There’s a general misconception that if the ball deflects off the body onto the arm, there cannot be a handball offence. This confusion comes from the wording of the handball law, before it was simplified in 2022. That implied that any deflection would negate an offence, but that was never really the case. It can be a consideration when making a decision, but the position of the arm is the still most important factor.
There could be no handball offence for the ball hitting Hughes’ left arm, but the right arm is high above the shoulder in a position that shouldn’t be expected for the player’s body movement. For that reason, even with the deflection, it should be a handball offence.
VAR review: This gives us the perfect comparison to the Hughes situation at Old Trafford, with this time the ball deflecting off the body and hitting the arm which is in a natural position by the side.
Keita’s shot was deflected onto Kilman by Andy Robertson from close range, and the ball rebounded off the defender’s stomach and onto his arm.
VAR review: Arsenal can consider themselves unlucky with this decision, because while Maupay is positioning his body to receive the loose ball there is a definite argument that he fouls Gabriel — even though he isn’t aware the Arsenal player is coming in from behind him.
The VAR, John Brooks, acknowledged there was contact, but not enough and considered that Everton had possession. The incident fell below the threshold required for a VAR intervention.
VAR review: Another incident which takes us back to the World Cup, when Japan had a goal awarded against Spain after the VAR ruled the ball hadn’t gone out of play.
Here, we had the opposite situation, with the goal originally being awarded.
In both instances, it’s about the burden of proof. Even taking into the account the curvature of the ball, it seems certain that the whole of the ball had left the pitch before Almiron played it. A correct decision from the VAR, Neil Swarbrick.
Possible offside: Paqueta when scoring
What happened: West Ham levelled in the 32nd minute when Declan Rice delivered a corner from the left, Lucas Paqueta came back from the goal-line and scored the equaliser.
VAR decision: Goal stands.
VAR review: You can’t be offside from a corner, so the only question for the VAR is whether Nayef Aguerd got a touch on the ball to create an offside phase. Replays showed that the flick-on actually came off a Newcastle player, Joelinton, so even though Paqueta was in an offside position when the ball is touched there can be no offence.
VAR review: This comes down to Estupinan’s challenge deemed to be fair, shoulder-on-shoulder. In this situation, you are allowed to try and use your strength to ease an opponent off the ball, even if you’re not attempting to play the ball.
As long as the challenge is shoulder-on-shoulder (taking into account the size of each player), it will deemed fair unless excessive force is used.
There’s little chance the VAR, Jarred Gillett, would tell the referee he’s got this wrong. Likewise, if Pawson gives the spot kick that also wouldn’t be considered a wrong decision. It’s a call which will always sit with the referee.
