Officially Speaking – with Keith Hackett
With the Premier League season finally coming to an end after it began over eleven months ago, Honorary Patron Keith Hackett gives Far Post Header his final review of the season.
I would personally like to add a quick line to thank Keith for all of the hard work that he has done over the course of the season to keep putting this article together. He critiques referee performances as a hobby and it is a fascinating insight into the world of officiating. Thank you Keith.
SUNDAY 26TH JULY KICK OFF 16.00
ARSENAL V WATFORD
Referee: Mike Dean
Assistants: Ian Hussin, Darren Cann
Fourth official: James Linington
Replacement official: Adrian Waters
VAR: Lee Mason
Assistant VAR: Adrian Holmes
Dawson’s shoulder barge into his opponent Lacazette eventually resulted in the correct award of a penalty kick.
In the 41st minute, David Luiz was late on a challenge with the Watford forward going down in the penalty area. A VAR review awarded a penalty kick, ignoring that the forward had just managed to get his shot away.
BURNLEY V BRIGHTON
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Assistants: Edward Smart, Richard Wild
Fourth official: Jeremy Simpson
Replacement official: Graeme Fyvie
VAR: Darren Bond
Assistant VAR: Dan Robathan
The first big call of the game came when Brighton’s number six barged into his opponent and to the surprise of everyone, no penalty kick was awarded. This was a clear and obvious error and VAR should have awarded a penalty kick. This was yet another situation where the referee should have visited the monitor.
Burnley had a goal correctly ruled out later in the game after replays showed that a Burnley forward had clearly impeded the goalkeeper.
CHELSEA V WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistants: Adam Nunn, Simon Long
Fourth official: Gavin Ward
Replacement official: Akil Howson
VAR: Simon Hooper
Assistant VAR: Derek Eaton
Wolves have every right to feel aggrieved following the wrong award of a free kick to Chelsea that resulted in a goal. Poor decision. Despite this error, Attwell is growing in stature.
CRYSTAL PALACE V TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistants: Neil Davies, Graham Kane
Fourth official: Tim Robinson
Replacement official: Michael Webb
VAR: Andy Madley
Assistant VAR: Simon Beck
EVERTON V BOURNEMOUTH
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Assistants: Daniel Cook, Sian Massey-Ellis
Fourth official: Geoff Eltringham
Replacement official: Shaun Hudson
VAR: Graham Scott
Assistant VAR: Mark Scholes
Firstly, I would comment that the referee in this game certainly increased his movement around the field of play with an improved workrate. This resulted in some positive decision-making.
In the 16th minute there were shouts for a penalty kick when the ball appeared to strike Digne’s arm inside the penalty area. Whilst arms were raised, I did not see this has a deliberate act and agreed with the Referee and VAR.
We had another appeal in the 59th minute for handball and again I found myself agreeing with the referee.
Later in the game a penalty kick was correctly awarded against Richarlison for leaning in and using his arm to deliberately handle the ball.
This was certainly an improved performance from this referee who is still fulfilling the potential that he demonstrated when he first came into the Select Group
LEICESTER CITY V MANCHESTER UNITED
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistants: Lee Betts, Constantine Hatzidakis
Fourth official: Oliver Langford
Replacement official: Robert Merchant
VAR: Paul Tierney
Assistant VAR: Peter Kirkup
Martin Atkinson delivered another sound performance and was correct in the two major decisions in this game. Jonny Evans was involved in both of them, the first a foul on an opponent inside the penalty area resulted in the correct award of a penalty kick. The second when the same player lunged at his opponent, deliberately going over the ball and crashing into his opponent’s leg. Atkinson was in a good position instantly showed a straight red card.
MANCHESTER CITY V NORWICH CITY
Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistants: Richard West, Nick Greenhalgh
Fourth official: Tony Harrington. Replacement official: Chris Isherwood. VAR: Darren England. Assistant VAR: Nick Hopton.
NEWCASTLE UNITED V LIVERPOOL
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistants: Gary Beswick, James Mainwaring
Fourth official: Matthew Donohue
Replacement official: Wade Smith
VAR: John Brooks
Assistant VAR: Scott Ledger
A resounding, close to a successful season by the Champions Liverpool who have scored some wonderful goals. There is a need for the home club to sort out its issues off the field of play.
SOUTHAMPTON V SHEFFIELD UNITED
Referee: Peter Bankes
Assistants: Marc Perry, Timothy Wood
Fourth official: Dean Whitestone
Replacement official: Matthew Lee
VAR: Jarred Gillett
Assistant VAR: Harry Lennard
Referee Bankes was in a very good position to witness the deliberate trip on Danny Ings by Oliver Norwood. He instantly pointed to the penalty mark. This referee is proving to be a safe pair of hands, operating in a calm and efficient manner building his reputation – Well done.
WEST HAM UNITED V ASTON VILLA
Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistants: Stuart Burt, Simon Bennett
Fourth official: Robert Jones
Replacement official: Lee Venamore
VAR: David Coote
Assistant VAR: Stephen Child
This game presented few problems to Referee Oliver.
Following the outburst of Karren Brady, the experienced CEO of West Ham United, it was good to witness a game where the focus of attention was on the players of both teams with an outcome that resulted in them both surviving the threat of relegation which has hung over their heads for some weeks.
Aston Villa can really count themselves lucky when you consider the ‘NO GOAL’ that was not awarded in their game with Sheffield United. Replays showed clearly that the ball had crossed the goal line. It goes to show that there are fine margins in the Premier League.
KEITH HACKETT
About Author
