Due to controversial referee calls in week six of play, the Premier League has requested that Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in England re-evaluate decisions made during in-game VAR reviews that occurred on Saturday.
The two matches in question involve West Ham United and Newcastle United. The two clubs scored goals that were annulled after the intervention of the VAR. The match officials allowed the opening goal, only to reverse the call after a video review.
According to a report on Sunday, PGMOL is understood to have effectively accepted that VAR interventions to disallow West Ham and Newcastle goals were wrong.
Unacceptable decision against West Ham United
West Ham manager David Moyes controlled his temper during the controversial disallowance of Maxwel Cornet’s goal. The Hammers coach had a post-game engagement with the referee. The “outrageous” call outraged fans, including pundits, who believed goalkeeper Edouard Mendy risked his body in the middle of a sliding save, obstructing the path of West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, who had no choice but to collide with Mendy. . Finally, Bowen inadvertently sliced through the goalie’s torso.
The VAR dispute here is a matter of debate. If Bowen hadn’t cut Mendy’s body, the keeper might have gotten up, avoiding Cornet’s open-door shot. However, the replay in my opinion shows Mendy making a mistake, risking his body in the middle of a dangerous play that caused the inevitable contact from Bowen.
Newcastle also missed out due to a VAR decision.
In Newcastle’s match against Crystal Palace, Crystal Palace fullback Tyrick Mitchell’s own goal was disallowed for what VAR determined to be a foul by Newcastle midfielder Joe Willock on Crystal Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita . The goalless draw generated controversy, causing the Premier League to question VAR strategies ahead of matchday seven.
Finally, during the duel between Manchester United and Arsenal on September 4, the VAR prevented another goal. A push in midfield on Christian Eriksen led to a Martinelli goal disallowed by the foul that caused the Danish winger to fall onto the field.
As the English Premier League heads into Matchday 7, there remains a concern with these specific calls, rather than the general VAR officiating system.
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