Officially Speaking – with Keith Hackett
Officially Speaking – written by Keith Hackett
It’s Monday and Guest Writer Keith Hackett once again reviews the weekend’s Premier League games for Far Post Header.
Southampton vs Leicester City
Referee: Andre Marriner
Sadly the referee failed to detect an excessive-force challenge by Bertrand of Southampton on a Leicester City player with referee Marriner allowing play to continue and Leicester City scored.
The VAR referee Mike Dean intervened and correctly advised the referee to dismiss Bertrand.
The performance of the Southampton players was shocking and the game ended with Leicester City equalling the Premier League record by scoring nine goals.
Brighton and Hove Albion vs Everton
Referee: Andy Madley
I was disappointed by the VAR intervention in this game (wrongly in my opinion) advising the referee to award a penalty kick. Replays at normal speed clearly showed that no offence had been committed.
I am clear that this incident should have been reviewed by the referee at the pitch-side monitor. I would have expected him to have overruled VAR on this one.
Burnley vs Chelsea
Referee: Michael Oliver
Our top referee produced another good performance.
The only talking point was of his award of a penalty kick which after VAR was correctly overturned, the Chelsea player was rightly cautioned for an act of simulation (or diving to you and me!).
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
Referee: Graham Scott
It’s amazing that a goal was still allowed to stand after the VAR check as Sterling was in an offside position. I would have expected the complete opposite as Sterling was standing in an offside position in the path of the goalkeeper and the ball was last played by Silva.
VAR was wrong on that one.
Fernandinho can have no complaints about receiving two yellow cards which resulted in his dismissal.
West Ham United vs Sheffield United
Referee: David Coote
A solid performance by the referee who controlled the game without incident. Coote continues to grow in confidence, is fast becoming a safe pair of hands and is one of our better officials.
Watford vs Bournemouth
Referee: Mike Dean
After operating as VAR in the Southampton vs Leicester City game on Friday night and producing an excellent performance in the Sheffield United game a few days earlier, this busy official was back in the middle for this encounter!
The game produced a no-score draw and I’m delighted to report that I thought Mike Dean produced another very good performance.