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
In this week’s VAR Review: Should Diogo Jota and Oliver Skipp have both been shown red cards in Liverpool vs. Tottenham? Was Richarlison denied a penalty? And what about spot-kick claims in matches involving Manchester City and Manchester United?
Possible red card: Jota challenge on Skipp
What happened: In the 81st minute, the ball bounced up just outside the centre circle and as Oliver Skipp went to head it he was caught on the side of the head by the studs of Diogo Jota, who was attempting to nick the ball away with a raised foot. The challenge drew blood and referee Paul Tierney produced a yellow card for Jota, but should it have been a red?
VAR decision: No red card.
VAR review: This is the dichotomy of VAR protocol in all leagues. You can have the Richarlison penalty claim which isn’t awarded and yet Aguerd’s challenge on Eze, which has far less contact, isn’t overturned.
If there’s contact by the defender on the attacker, even if slight, then there should be no VAR intervention; a penalty should only be overturned if the defender gets a touch on the ball (and the challenge isn’t reckless), or there is no contact, or if the contact is initiated by the attacker.
Even though this penalty is extremely soft, there’s little chance the VAR, Jarred Gillett, would intervene to cancel the penalty.
VAR review: While there was contact between the Aston Villa defender and Rashford, there was certainly nowhere near enough for a VAR penalty to be awarded. If anything, Rashford backs into Chambers rather than being fouled himself.
