Officially Speaking – with Keith Hackett

WEEK 9 PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREE REVIEW

SATURDAY 21ST NOVEMBER 2020

NEWCASTLE UNITED V CHELSEA RESULT  0-2
Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistants: Ian Hussin, Harry Lennard
Fourth official: Robert Jones
VAR: Simon Hooper
Assistant VAR: Scott Ledger.

This game brought another solid performance from referee Craig Pawson who is moving around the field of play much better than last season, He was in an ideal position to see the Newcastle United player scoring his own goal.
Some complaints by players that the Newcastle defender had been pushed were ill-founded and Chelsea were worthy of their two-nil win.

ASTON VILLA V BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION RESULT 1-2
Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistants: Stuart Burt, Simon Bennett
Fourth official: Darren England
VAR: Chris Kavanagh
Assistant VAR: Daniel Cook

My first observation is that in some games Referee Oliver coasts and fails to demonstrate his undoubted fitness and sharpness of decisions. To maintain his reputation, he must treat every game as though it is the Cup Final.
Having said that Oliver was in a great position to see and punish a foul by March on Villa’s Trezeguet.

I was rather surprised that the VAR intervened for this did not come into the criteria of a clear and obvious error.
Oliver walked across to the pitchside monitor and to my surprise overturned his penalty kick decision. He was wrong to change his decision and I wonder if on that walk to the monitor the referees are thinking to themselves that the VAR has seen it several times and he must be right.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR V MANCHESTER CITY RESULT 2-0
Referee: Mike Dean
Assistants: Darren Cann, Dan Robathan
Fourth official: Andy Madley
VAR: Kevin Friend
Assistant VAR: Adrian Holmes

Referee Mike Dean is in the twilight of his career, and at 52 has been an excellent servant to the game.
His movement around the field and management of this game was excellent. He allowed the game to flow with minimum interference.

Dean’s flamboyant style is not always appreciated but I can tell you having overseen his introduction to the Premier League he works hard off the field of play in his training and contribution to debate. He is also capable of leading a discussion and I do hope that the PGMOL are preparing him for a smooth transition from refereeing to part of the management/coaching team.

The main talking point was the ‘Goal’ scored by Manchester City and Dean was invited by VAR Chris Kavanagh to take a look at the pitchside monitor. He did this and correctly ruled out the goal for handball the ball had brushed the hand/arm of the attacking player. The law needs to change.

MANCHESTER UNITED V WEST BROMWICH ALBION RESULT 1-0
Referee: David Coote
Assistants: Lee Betts, Nick Hopton
Fourth official: Martin Atkinson
VAR: Peter Bankes
Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday

I do think that West Brom will feel aggrieved after referee David Coote pointed to the penalty mark with justification.
A foul was committed by Fernandes against West Brom’s Connor, so why did the VAR Peter Bankes intervene and get Coote to look at the pitchside monitor?
Coote had not made a CLEAR AND OBVIOUS ERROR and when not at the top of his confidence looked at the screen and WRONGLY overturned his penalty kick award.

That decision had major implications and sadly, the main talking point was the performance of the referee who earlier in the week had been informed that he would not be doing the VAR role in Sunday’s Liverpool v Leicester City game.
If he was not good enough to do the VAR role then why was he given the referee appointment? It really does not make sense!

The winning goal was the result of a handball offence that looked harsh and this time there was no VAR review. Manchester United’s Fernandes took the kick which was poor and easily saved by the goalkeeper. However, the kick was correctly ordered to be retaken.

The law states that when the ball is kicked, the defending goalkeeper must have at least part of one-foot touching, or in line with the goal line.

SUNDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 2020

FULHAM V EVERTON RESULT 2-3
Referee: Andy Madley
Assistants: Eddie Smart, Derek Eaton
Fourth official: Graham Scott
VAR: Lee Mason
Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday

Andy Madley allowed the game to flow with a relaxed and mature performance. Everton dominated the first half with two goals scored by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The main talking point was a correctly awarded penalty kick. No, not the decision of the referee which was correct but at a critical point in the game.
The Fulham player Ivan Cavaleiros skied his kick that was nowhere near goal. His angle of approach resulting in him sliding to the ground. I suggest that Scott Parker finds someone who can do a better job. Practice makes perfect.

Everton had opened the scoring after 42 seconds before Fulham equalised with a good move.
Everton’s Calvert Lewin scored a second, which was correctly ruled out for offside.
The second goal for Everton was the result of a great passing move by several Everton players. VAR checked for offside and confirmed the goal was ok.
After 35 minutes Everton scored a third goal with a header. Andy Madley correctly awarded a penalty kick to Fulham.
We then witnessed the aforementioned penalty miss and shortly afterwards Fulham did get a second, but it was too late.

SHEFFIELD UNITED V WEST HAM UNITED RESULT  0 -1
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Peter Kirkup
Fourth official: Robert Jones
VAR: Jonathan Moss
Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday

Martin Atkinson is one of the PGMOL’s trusted officials who delivers consistent quality performances. This trust is reflected by the PGMOL when you look at the number of appointments season to date.

He does have an ability to adopt a low-key approach, allowing the game to flow, and has a knack of intervening at the appropriate time.
I’m delighted to state that he delivered a top-class performance in which bottom of the table Sheffield United lost to a thunderbolt goal scored by Sebastien Haller.

LEEDS UNITED V ARSENAL RESULT 0-0
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn
Fourth official: Peter Bankes
VAR: Stuart Attwell
Assistant VAR: Neil Davies

This was an entertaining no score draw that well officiated by referee Anthony Taylor. VAR operated extremely well bringing to the attention of the referee an off-the-ball act of violent conduct.
Anthony Taylor reviewed the monitor and correctly dismissed Pepe who head-butted his opponent who went to ground rather easily.

LIVERPOOL V LEICESTER CITY RESULT 3-0
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Assistants: Daniel Cook, Marc Perry
Fourth official: Paul Tierney
VAR: Andre Marriner
Assistant VAR: Nick Hopton

We had a talking point before a ball was kicked with the mid-week news that David Coote the appointed VAR has been replaced by Andre Marriner.

Leicester City played with a rather subdued approach and it was hosts Liverpool who opened the scoring with an own goal by Johnny Evans.
Liverpool’s second by Jota came after a twenty-passing move before Firminho added a third with a header.

Well done referee Chris Kavanagh who can be very pleased with this performance.

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