Officially Speaking with Keith Hackett
REVIEW OF NOVEMBER 23/24TH PREMIER LEAGUE GAMES
There is no doubt that week 11 and 12 of the Premier League programme was full of controversy centred around the use of VAR. The result was a meeting of the clubs and PGMOL Managing Director Mike Riley.
Sadly, he is still in denial, believing and announcing that only four errors by the VAR have taken place in the first 120 games.
Personally, having been closely involved in the development of Goal Line Technology, I was aware that to secure the level of accuracy of the decision the camera speeds had to operate at 500 frames per second, when we come to offside, we have been informed that the camera speeds are operating at 50 frames per second. Clearly, to ensure accurate offside decisions, you have to pick up the exact point the ball is played forward and at that point determine if the player is offside and active.
I have serious doubts that the system that is been operated is accurate to detect either a foot/part of the body or head is in an offside position.
Saturday 23 November West Ham United 2 Tottenham Hotspur 3
| Games to date | Yellow Cards | Red Cards |
| 11 | 39 | 0 |
Referee: Michael Oliver. Assistants: Stuart Burt, Simon Bennett. Fourth official: Robert Jones. VAR: Andre Marriner. Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday.
The game signalled the return of the ‘Special One’ to the Premier League after the surprised sacking of Pochettino. The main talking points centred around the poor performance of the home team. Spurs had the ball in the net in the opening stages of the game only to see the flag correctly raised for offside. VAR I am sure checked; however, the process was quick and without interference. Referee Oliver produced a mature performance. Allowing the game to flow and the players responded. A game to start the weekend with no controversy. Well done Michael an 8/10 performance
Saturday 23 November Arsenal 2 Southampton 2
| Games to Date 7 | Yellow cards 27 | Red Cards 1 |
Referee: Stuart Attwell. Assistants: Richard West, Neil Davies. Fourth official: Gavin Ward. VAR: Andy Madley. Assistant VAR: Eddie Smart.
The talking point after this game centred around the home team manager Unai Emery whose job must be at risk. Southampton’s first goal came from a quickly taken free kick. Referee Attwell satisfied that the law had been satisfied and that the ball was stationary before it had been kicked. Southampton then went further ahead after Referee Attwell in a good viewing position detected a holding offence by the Arsenal defender. Attwell delivered a 7/10 performance avoiding controversy.
Saturday 23 November Bournemouth 1 Wolves 2
| Games to date 3 | Yellow cards 10 | Red cards 1 |
Referee: Simon Hooper. Assistants: Simon Beck, Derek Eaton. Fourth official: Anthony Coggins. VAR: Lee Mason. Assistant VAR: Mark Scholes.
There can be no complaints about the dismissal of the Bournemouth player for committing two yellow card offences. With Wolves winning two nil we saw a third goal incorrectly ruled out by an assistant who raised his flag prematurely. Had he kept it down then VAR could have reviewed the decision and there was a strong chance that the goal would have been allowed. This referee has some way to go to establish himself in the Premier league. A 6/10 performance.
Saturday 23 November Brighton and Hove Albion 0 Leicester City 2
| Games to date 11 | Yellow cards 50 | Red cards 2 |
Referee: Mike Dean. Assistants: Ian Hussin, Dan Robathan. Fourth official: James Linington. VAR: Graham Scott. Assistant VAR: Stephen Child.
Referee Mike Dean age 51 is in top form and having a very good season. Appeals by the home team turned down by the referee and a quick VAR check confirmed that he had made the correct decision. Later in the game Dean was in a terrific position to award a penalty kick with VAR confirming his decision. Whilst Vardy missed his team mate Maddison quickly followed up and scored. VAR review ruled out the goal for encroachment and Vardy made no mistake this time from the re-take scoring what turned out to be the winning goal. This was an 8/10 performance by Mike Dean a reliable official who along with Oliver, Taylor and Atkinson would be my early selections for next week’s games. So important to keep in form officials active
Saturday 23 November Crystal Palace 1 Liverpool 2
| Games to date 9 | Yellow cards 32 | Red cards 3 |
Referee: Kevin Friend. Assistants: Matthew Wilkes, Adrian Holmes. Fourth official: Oliver Langford. VAR: Chris Kavanagh. Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis.
The home team had the ball in the back of the net and in the VAR, check correctly ruled the goal out after a push by Palaces Jordan Ayew. Liverpool’s first goal saw the value of goal line technology has the ball hit both posts before crossing the line. Palace equalised through Zaha. Liverpool’s winner coming from a scrambled goal three minutes from the end of the game. Referee Friend delivering a 7/10 performance.
Saturday 23 November Everton 0 Norwich City 2
| Games to date 12 | Yellow cards 57 | Red cards 1 |
Referee: Anthony Taylor. Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn. Fourth official: David Webb. VAR: Darren England. Assistant VAR: Scott Ledger.
Bottom club Norwich showed a lot of desire in this performance against Everton who failed to turn up. With Pochettino available these are difficult times for Manager Silva, Referee Taylor managed the game well and delivered a 7/10 performance.
Saturday 23 November Waford 0 Burnley 3
| Games to date 10 | Yellow cards 32 | Red cards 0 |
Referee: Paul Tierney. Assistants: Daniel Cook, Harry Lennard. Fourth official: Jarred Gillett. VAR: Peter Bankes. Assistant VAR: Marc Perry.
At last we have an excellent use of VAR. A Burnley player goes down appealing for a penalty kick. The referee unsighted and no help from his assistant allowed Watford to break and attack the Burnley goal the ball running out for a penalty kick. Appeals from Burnley saw the involvement of the VAR and following a review correctly awarded a penalty kick to the away team. This is a good example how VAR can help the match officials. Well done Referee Tierney who delivered a 7/10 performance
Saturday 23 November Manchester City 2 Chelsea 1
| Games to date 12 | Yellow cards 35 | Red cards 1 |
Referee: Martin Atkinson (pictured). Assistants: Lee Betts, Constantine Hatzidakis. Fourth official: Jonathan Moss. VAR: Andre Marriner. Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday.
This was a terrific game that was a real showcase for the Premier League. Two teams demonstrating their talents and playing with discipline. Amazing skills demonstrated by the players and Referee Atkinson allowed the game to flow adopting a low-key approach to the proceedings. One VAR controversial incident and we saw once again a very good goal ruled out for offside. There was a clear case that the attacking player was level and I have little faith in the accuracy of the offside decision-making process by the VAR technology. Fortunately, it did not change the result. Atkinson performed well delivering an 8/10 performance
Sunday 24 November Sheffield United 3 Manchester United 3
| Games to date 8 | Yellow cards 17 | Red cards 2 |
Referee: Andre Marriner. Assistants: Simon Long, Sian Massey-Ellis. Fourth official: Andy Madley. VAR: Graham Scott. Assistant VAR: Stephen Child.
A terrific game of football with Sheffield United commanding the proceedings for the first 70 minutes. Then we saw Manchester United claw their way back and take the lead Sheffield United scored an equaliser that saw the VAR involved. The VAR Graham Scott adjudged that the ball did not strike the arm accidentally, happy that the player used his chest and not his upper arm to control the ball.
A busy weekend for Referee Marriner who can be happy with his weekend’s work with two VAR appointments yesterday and the middle today. This earned him a mark of 8/10
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