Officially Speaking – with Keith Hackett
Review of Referee performances in the Premier League 21/22nd December 2019
Congratulations to Liverpool for winning the FIFA Club World Cup
Saturday 21 December Everton 0-0 Arsenal
Referee: Kevin Friend
Assistants: Adrian Holmes, Mark Scholes
Fourth official: Lee Mason
VAR: Graham Scott
Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday
| Number of Premier League games | Total Yellow cards | Total Red cards |
| 12 | 41 | 3 |
This was a very poor game and to his credit, referee Friend maintained a low-key approach throughout. He was perhaps aware that one major error would then allow players and spectators to start shifting the blame towards the team of officials. This was avoided.
Saturday 21 December Bournemouth 0-1 Burnley
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Harry Lennard
Fourth official: John Brooks
VAR: David Coote
Assistant VAR: Nick Hopton
| Number of Premier League games | Total Yellow cards | Total Red cards |
| 16 | 51 | 2 |
There was a raised foot as a player challenged for the ball and a Bournemouth player sustained a facial injury. There was no malice in the challenge and other than awarding a free kick, no sanction was applied. In the same game VAR rightly decided to check the claims of a deliberate use of the arm/elbow in an aerial challenge. It was evident that this was also an accident and no further action was taken. In a game where only five shots on goal took place, Burnley won thanks to a goal by Jay Rodriquez. It was rather an easy game for the referee to officiate.
Saturday 21 December Aston Villa 1-3 Southampton
Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistants: Lee Betts, Ian Hussin
Fourth official: Darren England
VAR: Stuart Attwell
Assistant VAR: Simon Beck
| Number of Premier League games | Total Yellow cards | Total Red cards |
| 10 | 37 | 1 |
It was noticeable that Referee Pawson applied more movement in this game putting some width into his performance and even penetrating the penalty area in an effort to ensure good vision on incidents. It’s good to be able to report that the referee delivered a good performance without controversy.
Saturday 21 December Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Sheffield United
Referee: Robert Jones
Assistants: Stuart Burt, Simon Bennett
Fourth official: Keith Stroud
VAR: Michael Oliver
Assistant VAR: Neil Davies
| First appointment |
Congratulations to Rob Jones on securing his first Premier League appointment. He was supported by Oliver at Stockley Park and long-standing referee Keith Stroud fourth official in the technical area. VAR operated well with the first Sheffield United ‘goal’ correctly ruled out for accidental handball. The use of the stadium screen advising the fans that VAR was checking for a possible handball and then no goal is a step in the right direction to keep fans informed. We then had a second goal and this time scored by Brighton correctly ruled out for offside. I am delighted to report that these VAR checks did not affect the match official and he dealt with them very efficiently. United scored a legitimate goal following a breakaway attack. There was no requirement of a VAR check on this occasion. Then later in the game United scored a second to then see it correctly ruled out for a clear offside. Ref Jones should be satisfied with his performance and hopefully will now go away and work on his dynamic sprinting to ensure that he does not become detached from play.
Saturday 21 December Newcastle United 1-0 Crystal Palace
Referee: Simon Hooper
Assistants: Richard West, Derek Eaton
Fourth official: Ross Joyce
VAR: Chris Kavanagh
Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis
| Number of Premier League games | Total Yellow cards | Total Red cards |
| 5 | 16 | 1 |
Referee Hooper looked a bit sharper in this game, moving in a more positive manner, but some way to go to improve his sprinting.
Another game without incident apart from Newcastle’s Almiron who scored the winning goal in the 83rd minute. His explosive celebration involved him running towards the fans and hugging a young fan. In line with law Almiron received a yellow card for his goal celebration.
Saturday 21 December Norwich City 1-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Referee: Peter Bankes
Assistants: Daniel Cook, Marc Perry
Fourth official: James Linington
VAR: Jonathan Moss
Assistant VAR: Peter Kirkup
| Number of Premier League games | Total Yellow cards | Total Red cards |
| 5 | 21 | 0 |
Referee Bankes is settling in nicely to his role as a Premier League referee. He was quick and correct to issue an early yellow card. Two evenly-matched teams played the game in a good spirit with Wolves earning a win. The Referee produced a good performance.
Saturday 21 December Manchester City 3-1 Leicester City
Referee: Mike Dean
Assistants: Darren Cann, Dan Robathan
Fourth official: Andy Madley
VAR: Andre Marriner
Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday
| Number of Premier League games | Total Yellow cards | Total Red cards |
| 14 | 59 | 2 |
A referee is like the conductor of an orchestra and Mike Dean’s undoubted experience and ability allowed him to react positively to the beat and pace of this dynamic game. His fitness and game reading were outstanding and he covered a lot of ground, this was the very best of a Premier League game with Kevin De Bryne (Manchester City) and Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) delighting spectators with their skills. Well done Mike Dean in top form and clearly enjoying the twilight of his refereeing career,
Sunday 22 December Watford 2-0 Manchester United
Referee: Lee Mason
Assistants: Scott Ledger, Simon Long
Fourth official: Graham Scott
VAR: Martin Atkinson
Assistant VAR: Stephen Child
| Number of Premier League games | Total Yellow cards | Total Red cards |
| 7 | 24 | 1 |
There was an incident in the second half when a Watford player was in possession of the ball making a run towards his opponents’ goal. A foul at that point would have resulted in the issuing of a red card. Lee Mason chased the action down putting in a terrific sprint and maintaining close contact with play. When both opponents ended up on the ground, he waved aside any appeals for a free-kick. His proximity to play “sold” the decision brilliantly. No one questioned his judgment. Mason a referee who I have often said should have retired earlier delivered a good performance above his normal standards. The big talking point was the huge error of Manchester United’s goalkeeper David de Gea.
Sunday 22 December Tottenham Hotspur 0-2 Chelsea
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn
Fourth official: Andre Marriner
VAR: Paul Tierney
Assistant VAR: Eddie Smart
| Number of Premier League games | Total Yellow cards | Total Red cards |
| 14 | 68 | 2 |
For the first 30 minutes, referee Taylor adopted a low-key approach allowing the game to breathe. A derby game is always a challenge and the referee must remain alert. In the 39th minute, a late and reckless foul on the Chelsea goalkeeper by Tottenham’s number 17 Moussa Sissoko player should have received a yellow card. Taylor took a lenient view.
Three minutes later there was a mid-field flare up which was dealt with efficiently by the referee correctly issuing two yellow cards.
In added time in the first half, Referee Taylor was in a good viewing position to witness an excessive force challenge by the Tottenham goalkeeper. I was amazed that Taylor did not point to the penalty mark and red card the goalkeeper FOR WHAT WAS A SERIOUS FOUL PLAY CHALLENGE. Fortunately, VAR Paul Tierney intervened and rectified in part the error. Sadly, neither saw the CHALLENGE IN LAW AS SERIOUS FOUL PLAY.
In the 62nd minute right in front of a rather weak and out of form referee, Tottenham’s Son raised his boot up the chest of Chelsea’s Rudiger who frankly over-reacted. Taylor awaited the outcome of a VAR review and Son was rightly red carded.
In the 86th minute an object was thrown from the crowd narrowly missing the Chelsea goalkeeper.
We then saw the Referee talking with the Chelsea captain during a stoppage. Taylor then went to the side of the field near the technical area. We were later informed that racial comments had been reported, this sort of incident is unacceptable.
Keith Hackett
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