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 Everton‘s Yerry Mina have been sent off for “biting” AFC Bournemouth‘s Dominic Solanke? Were Brentford denied a penalty against Manchester City? And should Chelsea have been given a late spot kick against Newcastle United?
Possible red card: Mina on Solanke
What happened: In the 69th minute, Dominic Solanke got involved in an altercation with with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford on the goal-line. That resulted in a melee involving a number of players, with Everton defender Yerry Mina clashing with the Bournemouth striker inside the goal. Referee Stuart Attwell booked Pickford and Solanke, and also Adam Smith for dissent, but took no action against Mina — though the VAR, Michael Oliver, was able to check it.
VAR decision: No red card.
VAR review: We have seen this kind of incident several times in the Premier League this season, and if the referee hasn’t awarded any offence the VAR hasn’t got involved.
Both Mee and Gomez challenged for a bouncing ball that wasn’t under the control of either player, and while the Brentford player might have got a touch on the ball first it wouldn’t be viewed as a clear and obvious error not to give the penalty.
VAR review: A clear case of Lewis putting his arm to the ground to support his body, which is one of the key exemptions in the handball law. Had Lewis moved his arm to the path of the ball in a way which was obviously meant to stop its path, then the VAR could have awarded a penalty.
VAR review: Not anything for the VAR to look at, but one of the quirks of the modern handball law. While it’s an automatic offence for an attacking player to score a goal with their arm/hand, it isn’t if the ball goes into the net off a defending player — and the goal counts.
