Officially Speaking – with Keith Hackett

PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREE PERFORMANCE REVIEW – WEEK 7

FRIDAY 30TH OCTOBER 2020

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS V CRYSTAL PALACE RESULT  2-0
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistants: Lee Betts, James Mainwaring
Fourth official: John Brooks
VAR: Paul Tierney
Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday

The major talking-point in this game was the red card shown by Martin Atkinson after intervention from the VAR to Crystal Palace player Milivojevic.
The referee witnessed this challenge and allowed play to continue before VAR Paul Tierney at Stockley Park intervened.
In the comfort of a room and screens in front of him, the first thing that the VAR must ask is ‘Was there a serious and obvious error?’. Tierney intervened because he saw the challenge as serious foul play and that a red card should be issued.

Frankly, once VAR comes in Referees are now viewing the pitchside monitor and are automatically are accepting the decision of the VAR.
I do think that had Atkinson seen this challenge and blown up immediately then he could have issued a yellow under the banner of a reckless challenge.

Palace had two goals ruled out for offside and I am looking forward to the lawmakers the IFAB to change the law next season to somehow make changes that give the benefit of the doubt to the forward and give fans what they want to see – GOALS!

SATURDAY 31ST OCTOBER 2020

SHEFFIELD UNITED V MANCHESTER CITY RESULT 0-1
Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistants: Stuart Burt, Simon Bennett
Fourth official: Peter Bankes
VAR: Paul Tierney
Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday

Sheffield United have got their season off to a poor start and need to turn things around quickly. To date they have only one point from seven games.

The only goal of the match came from former Sheffield United player Kyle Walker a shot that frankly should not have breached United’s defence.

Chris Wilder will put matters right and I have every confidence that they will start to pick up points.

BURNLEY V CHELSEA RESULT 0 – 3
Referee: David Coote
Assistants: Gary Beswick, Nick Hopton
Fourth official: Jonathan Moss
VAR: Anthony Taylor
Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday

This was frankly an easy game for Chelsea who dominated from start to finish, scoring three and having one goal correctly ruled out for offside.

I do believe that Burnley needed to sign some players and despite his great record at Burnley one cannot feel that if Dyche fails to turn things around he will be on his bike. One point from six games is a position that no fan wants.

I thought on the day that Ashley Barnes was a little unlucky that a VAR review did not take place when Mendy of Chelsea appeared to bring his opponent to the ground after he had got his shot away.

LIVERPOOL V WEST HAM UNITED RESULT 2-1
Referee: Kevin Friend
Assistants: Simon Beck, Eddie Smart
Fourth official: Craig Pawson
VAR: Chris Kavanagh
Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis

One of the big areas of concern in the Premier League is how easily players go to ground on minimal contact. Mo Salah went to ground in this game and was awarded a penalty kick. In my era of officiating we would have waved this aside, recognising that the player was trying to deceive.
The problem here is that slow motion cameras always exaggerate the challenge;
I would certainly have not awarded a penalty kick and would have intervened to have words with Salah on what I considered to be his histrionics. I would hopefully not be deceived.

Many years ago I addressed all the managers of the Premier League clubs and expressed my concerns of this type of action by players. I informed them that one week they will be on the receiving end of having a penalty kick awarded in their favour, the next against them.

SUNDAY 1ST NOVEMBER

ASTON VILLA V SOUTHAMPTON RESULT 3-4
Referee: Darren England
Assistants: Adam Nunn, Dan Cook
Fourth official: Michael Oliver
VAR: Chris Kavanagh
Assistant VAR: Mark Scholes

Congratulations to Referee Darren England, who has settled into his new position on the Select Group really well. He does put a great deal of physical effort into his performances resulting in getting in some very good viewing positions.

One area of criticism that I have of his performance was that he did not to penalise a very obvious foul throw that sadly after a few passes resulted in a goal.
The law is clear: The thrower must throw the ball with both hands from behind and over the head from the point where it left the field of play.

The PGMOL need to keep giving England appointments for he is clearly in form and got his career off to a terrific start on the Premier League.

NEWCASTLE UNITED V EVERTON RESULT 2-1
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Marc Perry
Fourth official: Martin Atkinson
VAR: Craig Pawson
Assistant VAR: Darren Cann

Well done Stuart Attwell, another solid performance.

MANCHESTER UNITED V ARSENAL RESULT 0-1
Referee: Mike Dean
Assistants: Ian Hussin, Dan Robathan
Fourth official: Anthony Taylor
VAR: Peter Bankes
Assistant VAR: Neil Davies

This was another positive performance by experienced referee Mike Dean. Manchester United can have no complaints with the penalty kick awarded after Paul Pogba had fouled Hector Bellerin.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR V BRIGHTON KICK OFF
Referee: Graham Scott
Assistants: Simon Long, Tim Wood
Fourth official: Simon Hooper
VAR: Jonathan Moss
Assistant VAR: Nick Hopton

Referee Scott had a bit of a shocker and needs to review his decision-making. In this game his awareness and recognition of fouls was poor and frankly not to his usual standard.
He failed to recognise that Harry Kane of Tottenham deliberately backed into his opponent and made a back for him. Scott bought it and after first giving a free kick just outside the area, changed his decision following the intervention of VAR Jon Moss who indicated that the offence had taken place on the penalty area line. This was the wrong decision and Spurs scored from the penalty mark

Then this error was further compounded when Brighton’s March clearly fouled a Spurs player. No action was taken, and Brighton scored. In came VAR to suggest a review. Scott went to the monitor and shocked everyone by staying with his wrong decision and allowing the goal to stand.

A very poor performance from both Scott and Moss.

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