Premier League panel ‘admits VAR got it WRONG on SIX decision overturns this season’ – including Gabriel Martinelli’s disallowed goal at Man United and calls rescuing Chelsea and Crystal Palace
- A review of Premier League VAR calls before the World Cup found six were incorrect
- They include Gabriel Martinelli’s disallowed goal in Arsenal’s loss at Man United
- West Ham’s 90th-minute equalizer at Chelsea also should have stood but didn’t
- Other incorrect calls involved Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace
Premier League referees reportedly made six incorrect VAR interventions’ during the first part of the season – including a disallowed goal for Arsenal at Manchester United.
A review by an independent panel, comprising three former players and representatives from the Premier League and the referee’s body PGMOL, found six errors from 48 overturned decisions in the games prior to the World Cup break.
According to ESPN, this includes Gabriel Martinelli’s strike which would have put Arsenal 1-0 up in the 12th-minute at Old Trafford.
Gabriel Martinelli’s goal for Arsenal at Man United was disallowed following a VAR check
Martin Odegaard was adjudicated to have fouled Christian Eriksen in the build-up to the goal
Martinelli protests to the fourth official after his early opener at Old Trafford was ruled out
The Video Assistant Referee [VAR] Lee Mason advised on-pitch referee Paul Tierney the goal should be ruled out for a foul by Martin Odegaard on Christian Eriksen in the build-up. United went on to win the match 3-1.
The assessment concluded the goal should have stood, with other examples including Maxwel Cornet’s 90th-minute equalizer for West Ham in a 2-1 loss at Chelsea in early September.
That was disallowed by VAR because Jarrod Bowen was adjudicated to have fouled the Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy just before Cornet scored.
West Ham were infuriated when their last minute equaliser at Chelsea was disallowed by VAR
VAR decided that Jarrod Bowen had fouled Edouard Mendy before Maxwel Cornet scored
Tyrick Mitchell and Joe Willock were involved in another wrong call at St James’ Park
Other examples of incorrect VAR calls include an own goal by Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell at Newcastle which was disallowed for a foul in the build-up by Joe Willock on goalkeeper Vicente Guaita. That match finished goalless.
There was also a penalty awarded to Brentford at Nottingham Forest, when VAR decided goalkeeper Dean Henderson had brought down Yoane Wissa for the spot-kick. Bryan Mbeumo scored the penalty and the game ended 2-2.
A Douglas Luiz red card for violent conduct against Aleksandar Mitrovic in the 62nd minute of Aston Villa’s 3-0 defeat at Fulham was also deemed to be incorrect. Villa were just 1-0 down at the time.
Douglas Luiz was sent off in Aston Villa’s game at Fulham for violent conduct on Mitrovic
VAR decided Forest keeper Dean Henderson had brought down Yoane Wissa for a penalty
Also a handball decision that went against Villa’s Lucas Digne to concede a penalty at Crystal Palace that Wilfried Zaha scored on the rebound was a mistake.
The review also flagged up several more missed interventions, ESPN reported, including two West Ham goals that should have been disallowed for handball in their 3-1 home win against Fulham.
It comes as former Premier League official Howard Webb takes over as PGMOL’s chief refereeing officer with a brief to improve standards at ground and in the VAR center at Stockley Park.
PGMOL chief Howard Webb plans to visit Premier League clubs to discuss VAR in the new year
A dedicated VAR coach has been appointed to work with officials who use the technology.
Webb also plans to visit all Premier League clubs in the new year to discuss the technology.
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