Officially Speaking – with Keith Hackett
PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREE APPOINTMENTS MATCH WEEK 2
19TH SEPTEMBER 2020
EVERTON V WEST BROMWICH ALBION RESULT 5 – 2
Referee: Mike Dean
Assistants: Darren Cann, Dan Robathan
Fourth official: Jeremy Simpson
VAR: Simon Hooper
Assistant VAR: Stephen Child
When a player pushes out with his hands in the face of his opponent, it leaves the referee Mike Dean no option other than to show a red card and dismiss.
West Brom’s Gibbs in a flash of temper can expect an appropriate fine and suspension for his unacceptable actions.
The knock on effect came at half time when the referee was leaving the field. Slaven Bilic (the West Brom manager) came and expressed his unhappiness to Mike Dean. Rather than attempting to take the heat out of the situation, Dean produced a red card to the West Brom manager who then spent the second half in the stand.
LEEDS UNITED V FULHAM RESULT 4-3
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn
Fourth official: Kevin Friend
VAR: Stuart Attwell
Assistant VAR: Constantine Hatzidakis
Leeds are clearly enjoying their return to the Premier League and are finding the net with some ease. However, their current open play leaves them vulnerable at the back.
Anthony Taylor delivered a performance with any controversy.
MANCHESTER UNITED V CRYSTAL PALACE RESULT 1-3
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistants: Lee Betts, Peter Kirkup
Fourth official: Robert Jones
VAR: Jonathan Moss
Assistant VAR: Marc Perry
Fans around the country are scratching their heads at the recent interpretation of the law applicable to handball applied by PGMOL Referees.
For an offence to take place, a player has to deliberately touch the ball with their hand/arm, including moving the hand/arm towards the ball.
It also states that an offence has taken place when the player has used his hand/arm to make their body unnaturally bigger,
It also states that it is not an offence if the ball touches a players hand/arm
directly from the players own head or body (including the foot).
I was therefore amazed to see Crystal Palace being awarded a penalty kick after Martin Atkinson had a chance to watch the incident back on the pitch side monitor. The ball clearly struck Victor Lindelof on the hand, but it comes at him with pace and from close in. He has not, in my opinion, deliberately handled the ball and his hands are in a natural position when you consider the movement of Lindelöf defending the attack.
The retake of the penalty kick and of course the change of the kicker is in tune with law and I have no complaints with that providing the kicker is clearly identified.
ARSENAL V WEST HAM UNITED RESULT 2-1
Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistants: Stuart Burt, Simon Bennett
Fourth official: Darren England
VAR: Chris Kavanagh
Assistant VAR: Neil Davies
The only thing of note from this match was that Oliver used the pitch side monitor to determine that a handball offence had not taken place.
SUNDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER
SOUTHAMPTON V TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR RESULT 2-5
Referee: David Coote
Assistants: Harry Lennard, Nick Hopton
Fourth official: Keith Stroud
VAR: Chris Kavanagh
Assistant VAR: Richard West
Following a VAR review, David Coote surprised everyone in the ground by awarding a penalty kick. This was an incorrect call.
NEWCASTLE UNITED V BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION RESULT 0-3
Referee: Kevin Friend
Assistants: Simon Beck, Adrian Holmes
Fourth official: Robert Jones
VAR: Craig Pawson
Assistant VAR: Dan Robathan
Yves Bissouma rightly received a red card for a needless high flick with his foot which clattered into the face of his bloodied opponent. It was reckless and endangered the safety of his opponent. Referee Kevin Friend was looking directly at it and initially took no action. Then on review using the pitch side monitor the red card was correctly produced.
CHELSEA V LIVERPOOL RESULT 0-2
Referee: Paul Tierney
Assistants: Daniel Cook, Constantine Hatzidakis
Fourth official: Stuart Attwell
VAR: Michael Oliver
Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis
Just before half time, Sadio Mane of Liverpool latched onto a through ball and was rugby tackled and brought down to the ground by Chelsea’s Christensen. The referee reached for a yellow card and was rightly instructed to review his decision by VAR Michael Oliver. Following the review using the pitch side monitor the yellow was upgraded to red. Correct decision.
Chelsea were rightly awarded a penalty for a trip reviewed by VAR. Penalty kick taken and saved and VAR judged for any premature movement.
MONDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER
ASTON VILLA V SHEFFIELD UNITED KICK OFF 18.00
Referee: Graham Scott
Assistants: Eddie Smart, Derek Eaton
Fourth official: Simon Hooper
VAR: Mike Dean
Assistant VAR: Darren Cann
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS V MANCHESTER CITY KICK OFF 20.15
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistants: Scott Ledger, Simon Long
Fourth official: Jonathan Moss
VAR: Peter Bankes
Assistant VAR: Timothy Wood
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