Officially Speaking – with Keith Hackett
PREMIER LEAGUE REVIEW OF REFEREES DECISIONS 9th 11th 12th and 13th July www.keystoreferee.com
Before I start to review Week 35 games, I want to reflect on last Thursday and review what was for me the worse nights performances in the history of the Premier League.
The interaction between the Referee and the Video Assistant Referee is currently flawed. Referees are not encouraged by the PGMOL management to use the pitchside monitor and this results in the remote VAR making big decisions from their bunker on Stockley Park, West London.
This week FIFA through their Head of Referee’s announcing that they are taking control of how VAR operates around the World.
I suggest that former top International Referee the man responsible for those behind the goal judges in the Champions League, abject nonsense makes his first port of call to the PGMOL.
REVIEW OF PREMIER LEAGUE GAMES THURSDAY 9th JULY
ASTON VILLA V MANCHESTER UNITED
REFEREE JON MOSS
Aston Villa were playing well against Manchester United until a foul by a Manchester United forward on a Villa defender resulted in Jon Moss pointing to the penalty mark.
“Oh no Jon, not another clanger, but don’t worry VAR will come to your rescue.” VAR Scott did not intervene and through poor officiating, the penalty kick decision was not overturned. Why didn’t Moss go to the pitchside monitor?
EVERTON V SOUTHAMPTON
REFEREE LEE MASON
Oh dear! We start off with referee Lee Mason awarding a penalty kick,despite there being no foul as the attacker went to ground before contacting the defender.
Why was there no intervention by VAR Andy Madley? It was a CLEAR AND OBVIOUS ERROR!
With the score at 1-1, an Everton player in possession of the ball made a run towards his opponents’ goal and was fouled by a Southampton player.
The offence was outside the area, there were no other defenders around the player and the ball at the time of the offence was moving towards the goal. It should have been a RED CARD not yellow for the denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
This was another case of Referee and VAR getting it wrong. Had the foul been committed inside the penalty area, the defender who fouled made an attempt to play the ball, then it would have resulted in the yellow card and penalty kick.
Surely this must be Lee Mason’s last season in the Premier League, he is not good enough.
BOURNEMOUTH V TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
REFEREE PAUL TIERNEY
Yet another refereeing controversy coming in this game. The ball entered the penalty area and there was a clear push-on Tottenham’s Harry Kane. Paul Tierney usually a good decision-maker was motionless.
We awaited the intervention of VAR Michael Oliver who did not intervene and advise that Tierney should review the pitchside monitor. A huge mistake.
Bournemouth had the ball in the net but there was an accidental handball on the way to the goal, so it was correctly ruled out. What a stupid law,
A POOR NIGHT FOR ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREE
PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREE REPORT WEEK 35
If there was ever a time for our PGMOL officials to have an incident-free weekend then this was it!
SATURDAY 11TH JULY
NORWICH CITY V WEST HAM UTD RESULT 0-4
Referee: Kevin Friend
Assistants: Simon Beck, Peter Kirkup
Fourth official: Andy Woolmer
Replacement official: Lee Venamore
VAR: Simon Hooper, Assistant VAR: Mark Scholes
At the end of this one-sided game, Norwich City were relegated having only won five games out of 35 to date. Accumulating 21 points and a goal difference of -41.
The home team were overrun by West Ham United playing positive attacking football and Michail Antonio scoring all four.
The match officials were able to produce a low key yet important performance without and allowed the VAR not to get involved,
WATFORD V NEWCASTLE UNITED RESULT 2-1
Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistants: Stuart Burt, Dan Robathan
Fourth official: Dean Whitestone
Replacement official: Matthew Lee
VAR: Stuart Attwell
Assistant VAR: Andy Garratt
Sheffield-based Referee Pawson was in charge of this important bottom-of-the-table clash with the home team sitting in seventeenth position in the league, just outside the relegation zone. Manager Nigel Pearson has done a remarkable job since taking over.
Early in the game a shot by Watford and hit the crossbar and bounced down to the ground leaving some players celebrating a goal. I’m delighted to say that Goal Line Technology clearly showed that the whole of the ball had not crossed the line.
The first penalty kick awarded by Craig Pawson, who was in a good position was in my opinion, an incorrect decision. There was little contact if any and a theatrical going to ground by the Watford player.
VAR viewed the decision as it was not a clear and obvious error. This was not a penalty kick for me.
The next talking point was another a poor piece of officiating. With the assistant flagging for a clear offside, Pawson allowed play to continue and a cross into Watford’s penalty area was deflected into the goal off a Watford defender.
Pawson correctly disallowed the goal and returned to the offside decision, This was loose refereeing that lacked sharpness.
A second penalty to Watford saw again Pawson in a good viewing position to detect and correctly award a penalty kick.
LIVERPOOL BURNLEY RESULT 1-1
Referee: David Coote
Assistants: Marc Perry, Nick Hopton
Fourth official: Martin Atkinson
Replacement official: James Mainwaring
VAR: Chris Kavanagh, Assistant VAR: Adrian Holmes.
This is a referee who is building his career and applies himself in a positive manner. This appointment a good test of his ability.
The Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope is having a solid season and putting himself in contention for the England role. Despite being beaten by a goal scored by the home team, he made some terrific saves.
Burnley were incorrectly awarded a free-kick and from it a pass resulted in a goal.
The big decision in this game was the foul challenge that should have resulted in Liverpool been awarded a penalty kick.
SHEFFIELD UNITED V CHELSEA RESULT 3-0
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistants: Richard West, Darren Cann
Fourth official: Lee Mason
Replacement official: Nick Barnard
VAR: Andy Madley, Assistant VAR: Ian Hussin.
Sheffield United took the lead with McGoldrick late in the season scoring his first Premier League goal.
I have to highlight that long-serving referee Andre Marriner at times was too detached from play and looked lethargic in his movement around the field of play.
The home team scored a second and their high tempo pressing game is back with vengeance and we then saw another goal for United’s McGoldrick scoring a second.
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION V MANCHESTER CITY RESULT 0-5
Referee: Graham Scott
Assistants: Eddie Smart, Derek Eaton
Fourth official: James Linington
Replacement official: Paul Kelly
VAR: Peter Bankes, Assistant VAR: Stephen Child
This was such a one-sided game with City’s Raheem Sterling netting his latest hat-trick.
It was another solid performance for the referee Graham Scott who operated in a low-key manner and took full advantage of an easy Saturday run out allowing the game to flow with minimal interference.
SUNDAY 12TH JULY
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS V EVERTON RESULT 3-0
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn
Fourth official: Kevin Friend
Replacement official: Marvyn Amphlett
VAR: Andre Marriner,Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis.
ASTON VILLA V CRYSTAL PALACE RESULT 2-0
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistants: Lee Betts, Constantine Hatzidakis
Fourth official: Peter Bankes
Replacement official: Timothy Wood
VAR: Jonathan Moss, Assistant VAR: Peter Kirkup.
Sakho put Palace ahead after the ball had struck him on the shoulder as he was heading the ball into the net. VAR Jon Moss intervened and surprisingly ruled the goal out for accidental handball. Atkinson should have viewed the pitchside monitor. I believe this is the wrong decision
Early in the second half, referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the penalty mark after Aston Villa’s Grealish theatrically went to ground. It was a rather surprising call and fortunately, VAR Jon Moss overturned the decision. Grealish should have received a yellow card for an act of simulation
I do hope that someone will give a reminder that VAR is only to intervene on clear and obvious errors. The goal should not have been ruled out
Towards the end of the game, Benteke was fouled and was very unhappy about the challenge. Atkinson awarded a free-kick, but I believe that a yellow card should have been issued here.
After the final whistle Benteke was shown a red card as tempers flared.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR V ARSENAL RESULT 2-1
Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistants: Simon Bennett, Daniel Cook
Fourth official: Graham Scott
Replacement official: Darren Blunden
VAR: Paul Tierney, Assistant VAR: Harry Lennard
Referee Oliver was determined to keep tight control of this North London Derby as Tottenham won the game 2-1. I guess he will be delighted that he got through the game without any controversy!
BOURNEMOUTH V LEICESTER CITY RESULT 4-1
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistants: Simon Long, Neil Davies
Fourth official: Simon Hooper
Replacement official: Mark Pottage
VAR: Craig Pawson, Assistant VAR: Stephen Child
In form Jamie Vardy opened the scoring for the away team against Bournemouth a team once again fighting relegation.
The home team quickly struck back wit a correctly awarded penalty kick which was scored to draw level with Leicester.
It was a bizarre incident as Leicester’s goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel blasted his goal kick against his own player. The ball rebounded to an opponent who ran with the ball into his opponents penalty area and was fouled.
Bournemouth then took the lead followed quickly by the sending off of Leicesters Caglar Soyunko who kicked his opponent whilst they were both inside the goal close to the netting. A good piece of refereeing by Attwell who kept his awareness to detect the offence.
MONDAY 13TH JULY
MANCHESTER UNITED V SOUTHAMPTON
KICK OFF 20.00
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Assistants: Sian Massey-Ellis, Scott Ledger
Fourth official: Anthony Taylor
Replacement official: Jonathan Hunt
VAR: Lee Mason, Assistant VAR: Marc Perry.
So to wrap up the last of ten games in the weekly plan, Monday night saw in-form Manchester United at home to Southampton.
Referee Chris Kavanagh was in charge. This referee made an excellent entry when he joined the SG1 refs that officiate in the English Premier League.
The main talking-point was the referee missing the Excessive force challenge that should have received an instant red card. No action from the referee so we awaited the intervention of VAR one Lee Mason.
The VAR also got it completely wrong by not advising a red.
Until referees start to use the pitch side monitor things will continue to go from one crisis to another. Romeu caught Greenwood with a challenge that was studs up and delivered with malice.
Come on refs get these decisions right!
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