Officially Speaking – with Keith Hackett

PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREE REVIEW WEEK ONE

FRIDAY 13TH AUGUST

BRENTFORD V ARSENAL
RESULT 2-0

Referee: Michael Oliver. Assistants: Stuart Burt, Simon Bennett. Fourth official: Mike Dean. VAR: Chris Kavanagh. Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis.

A great atmosphere in the new Brentford Stadium welcomed the start of the new Premier League season. Michael Oliver who produced some excellent performances in the European Championships was in charge.
Brentford’s Cano scored the first goal for Brentford in the 22nd minute who dominated the game throughout. Their second goal in the 77th minute was from a long throw with Arsenal’s goalkeeper looking for the award of a free kick after he had been impeded. Clearly the new threshold for VAR intervention that should have been in operation two years ago rightly did not interfere.

A good performance from Oliver and his team.

SATURDAY 14TH AUGUST

MANCHESTER UNITED V LEEDS UNITED
RESULT 5-1

Referee: Paul Tierney. Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Neil Davies. Fourth official: Anthony Taylor. VAR: Chris Kavanagh. Assistant VAR: Lee Betts.

A great start to the season for the home team with United’s Pogba producing an excellent performance and Bruno Fernandes hitting the back of the net in the 30th, 54th and 60th minute. Manchester United’s fourth goal would have been ruled out for offside last season.
I have written on a regular basis about the nonsense of toes been offside and goals ruled out last season.
At the request of stakeholders in the game, the PGMOL thankfully adopted the criteria that we witnessed in operation at the Euros. This effectively reintroduces the benefit of the doubt to the attacking player.

In a really close offside situation, the PGMOL will carry on following the same processes that they did last year with VAR. They will apply the one-pixel lines, placing the defending line and then the attacking line.
They then put on the thicker broadcast lines and where they overlap, those situations will now be deemed as onside.   

20 goals were disallowed last season and this season we will see situations like Fernandes given the benefit of the doubt.

There will also be a difference in how VAR decisions on potential offsides will be conveyed to TV viewers.
United also scored through Greenwood (52nd minute) Fred (68th minute) Leeds United Ayling scoring in the 49th minute.

A great game and a top-class officiating performance by Paul Tierney.

BURNLEY V BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
RESULT 1-2

Referee: David Coote. Assistants: Peter Kirkup, Nick Hopton. Fourth official: Martin Atkinson. VAR: Jarred Gillett. Assistant VAR: Derek Eaton.

Burnley opened their scoring in the second minute through Tarkowski. Brighton were looking for a VAR intervention after the Burnley player had clearly pushed Maupay to the ground in the build-up. Frankly, I want goals to be scored but this was a clear foul and the goal should have been ruled out.

Brighton in the second half after substitutions by Manager Potter earned their win through goals by Maupay (73) and Macalister (78).

Referee Coote can be satisfied with his performance although I suggest he reviews that incident leading up to the Burnley goal. Yes, I am aware that the bar has been raised by the PGMOL, but when we move into the business end of the competition, we could be sowing the seeds of problems to come. A liberal approach to the application of the laws requires the acceptance of the players going forward. Today it worked with little protest.

CHELSEA V CRYSTAL PALACE
RESULT 3-0

Referee: Jonathan Moss. Assistants: Marc Perry, Timothy Wood. Fourth official: James Linington. VAR: Graham Scott. Assistant VAR: Harry Lennard.

This was a one-sided game with Chelsea dominating play throughout. New Palace manager Patrick Viera has a lot of work to ensure that his players gel. Many senior players have left the club, so new players need to be brought in quickly.

The one piece of note was to see Chelsea’s Chalobah after scoring his first goal openly showing the emotions of what it meant to him.  He has been with Chelsea since he was eight years old. This was his first Premier League appearance.

Referee Jon Moss delivered the game without controversy.

EVERTON V SOUTHAMPTON
RESULT 3-1

Referee: Kevin Friend. Assistants: Adrian Holmes, Eddie Smart. Fourth official: Tony Harrington. VAR: Darren England. Assistant VAR: Dan Robathan.

Rafael Benitez received a standing ovation from Evertonian fans.

Southampton opened the scoring through Armstrong after a huge mistake by Everton’s Michael Keane and spent the rest of the half struggling to find any form.

In the second half, Everton’s Richarlison (who had recently won an Olympic Gold medal) was quick off the mark scoring Everton’s opener. In the closing stages of the game, Everton scored in the 76 and 81st minute to put a smile on the face of their new manager.

Another good performance from Referee Kevin Friend.

LEICESTER CITY V WOLVES
RESULT 1-0

Referee: Craig Pawson. Assistants: Ian Hussin, Scott Ledger. Fourth official: Michael Salisbury. VAR: Michael Oliver. Assistant VAR: Dan Cook.

The man of the match was Leicester’s Jamie Vardy who scored a delightful opener, using the outside of his left foot to steer the ball into the net.

Vardy had the ball in the net but was rightly flagged offside early by a vigilant Assistant referee. Here is another change by the PGMOL with regard to the timing of the flagging for offside decisions.

As part of the VAR process last season, Premier League assistant referees delayed raising their flags when an immediate goalscoring opportunity was likely to occur, even if they thought there had been an offside.
Once a goal had been scored or the chance had gone, only then would the assistants raise their flags to indicate the initial offence. This allows the VAR to check to see if the attacker was onside and a goal could then be awarded.

After a season of learning and feedback from players and clubs, the 2021/22 Premier League assistant referees will raise the threshold for what constitutes an immediate and obvious goalscoring opportunity.
So, for example, an attacking player receiving the ball from an offside position down the wing will now be flagged offside by the assistant. 

WATFORD V ASTON VILLA
RESULT 3-2

Referee: Mike Dean. Assistants: Darren Cann, Mark Scholes. Fourth official: Robert Jones. VAR: Peter Bankes. Assistant VAR: Stuart Burt.

Watford got the season off to a flier on their return to the Premier League, taking a three-goal lead. Villa, still reeling from the £100 million sale of their iconic player Grealish to Manchester City, were slow starters but credit to them for scoring two goals in the second half.

Villa’s second from the penalty mark in added time came after referee Dean (who was in a great position) rightly pointed to the penalty mark after Bertrand Traore was tripped by Watford’s Adam Masina.

Mike Dean delivered an excellent performance applying some terrific advantages one of which resulted in a goal.

NORWICH CITY V LIVERPOOL
RESULT 0-3

Referee: Andre Marriner. Assistants: Simon Long, Richard West. Fourth official: Andy Madley. VAR: Stuart Attwell. Assistant VAR: Gary Beswick.

Salah scored in this game and in doing so, became a record breaker. He has now scored a goal in the opening weekend game in five consecutive seasons.

The return of Virgil Van Dijk for Liverpool must strengthen the club’s ambition to win the Premier League title,

SUNDAY 15TH AUGUST

NEWCASTLE UNITED V WEST HAM UNITED
RESULT 2-4

Referee: Martin Atkinson. Assistants: Lee Betts, James Mainwaring. Fourth official: David Coote. VAR: Peter Bankes. Assistant VAR: Neil Davies.

This was a very entertaining game with the home team taking the lead through Wilson in the 5th minute. We then saw an excellent use of VAR when West Ham United’s Aaron Cresswell scored but there was a suspicion of offside and Assistant Referee Lee Betts raised his flag to indicate offside.
VAR check rightly ruled the goal was okay the player who was flagged had not made contact with the ball, Just before halftime Newcastle United took the lead through Murphy.

West Ham United drew level through Benrahma in the second half.

In the 63rd minute, Referee Martin Atkinson was in a good position to point to the penalty mark. A quick VAR check confirmed the decision but I have to say this was a wrong. VAR should have instructed Martin to have a second look. Antonio failed to score but a follow up by Soucek scored West Ham United’s third goal. Finally a goal by Antonio man of the match scored the fourth.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR V MANCHESTER CITY
RESULT 1-0

Referee: Anthony Taylor. Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn. Fourth official: Craig Pawson. VAR: Stuart Attwell. Assistant VAR: Constantine Hatzidakis.

Before the game kicked off, the news centred around the fact that Harry Kane was not in the squad for Tottenham. City’s £100 million signing was selected to play from the start.

The first half was fairly even but was rather surprised that Referee Taylor pulled over the Spurs Captain to give what was a second public warning to Japhet Tanganga, the Spurs player lucky to escape a caution.

Spurs forward Son opened the scoring with a direct shot on goal in the 55th minute.

In the 60th minute, Raheem Sterling thought that he should have had a penalty kick, but Taylor was spot on – no foul.

Bergwijn should have made it 2-0 firing a clear shot on goal wide of the post.

The game suddenly heated up and Taylor was correct to display a yellow card to Lucas Moura for a foul on Grealish.
Manchester City were disappointing and I guess this is why they are looking to sign Harry Kane.
A good win by Spurs

A very good start to the season for our referees and I do like the approach of the “light touch” providing players accept this style of officiating and maintain good self control.

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