Officially Speaking – with Keith Hackett

REVIEW OF PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREE PERFORMANCES WEEK THREE

Saturday 26 September

BRIGHTON V MANCHESTER UNITED RESULT 2- 3
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Assistants: Sian Massey-Ellis, Constantine Hatzidakis
Fourth official: Graham Scott
VAR: Simon Hooper
Assistant VAR: Neil Davies

There is no doubt that the outcome of this game would be the major talking point of the weekend. I thought that Referee Kavanagh produced a first-class performance and I support all of his decisions.

Manchester United had the ball in the net very early on in the game only for the goal to be correctly ruled out for offside. No lines on the screen were required to judge this decision as the forward was a good yard offside.

Referee Kavanagh was in a good position to award a penalty kick and Brighton took the lead from the resulting kick.

We then had the first controversial incident with Pogba of Manchester United appearing to foul the Brighton player. Kavanagh was in close proximity to play pointed to the penalty mark.
The VAR Simon Hooper signalled to the referee that he had made a serious and obvious error. Kavanagh took the walk to the Referee Review Area and after viewing the monitor he could see that Brighton’s Connolly was in fact holding Pogba. Kavanagh returned and withdrew the yellow card he had issued to Pogba and approached the Brighton player and cautioned him for simulation.
This was the correct call by the referee.

Brighton had hit the woodwork on five separate occasions signalling that Manchester United’s defence leaks like a sieve!
The game was coming to a close with the score two-two and Referee Kavanagh signalled for the end of the game surrounded by protesting Manchester United – Game Over. But no! VAR suggested a review and it was clear that a Brighton player Neal Maupay had handled and Manchester United scored the resulting penalty kick and won the game 2-3.

Because the handball had taken place in added time, the laws of the game allow for the game to be extended in order for the penalty kick to be taken.
Quick thinking Kavanagh and the eagle-eyed VAR Simon Hooper were correct in the lawsof the game.

CRYSTAL PALACE V EVERTON RESULT 1-2
Referee: Kevin Friend
Assistants: Simon Beck, Eddie Smart
Fourth official: Gavin Ward
VAR: Anthony Taylor
Assistant VAR: Gary Beswick

Before the start of the game there was a one minutes silence for the Police Officer who had been shot dead in nearby Croydon.
Everton opened the scoring with Calvert-Lewin scoring his fifth of the season before Crystal Palace drew level through a header by Cheikhou Kouyate.

Once again, we witnessed a goal been scored by what is currently a bizarre interpretation of the handball Law by the PGMOL Match officials. This was clearly accidental as the ball struck the hand of the Palace player which was in a natural position.
Manager Roy Hodgson correctly venting his opinion and stating that his enjoyment of football was been ruined by this bizarre interpretation of the handball law. This is something that I have been venting about since the restart of the season.

 WEST BROMWICH ALBION V CHELSEA RESULT 3-3
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Assistants: Marc Perry, Dan Robathan
Fourth official: Lee Mason
VAR: Darren England
Assistant VAR: Darren Cann

The game ended three each after an added time equalizer scored by Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham.
The home team were leading three-nil at halftime after Chelsea’s defence were all over the place.

West Brom Manager Slaven Bilic was again unhappy with a referee’s decision having been fined £8000 earlier in the week for his outburst. His claims that an accidental handball in the build up to Chelsea’s equaliser should have been penalised and he needs to catch up with the handball law change.

It now reads It is an offence if a player scores in his opponents’ goal directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper.

NOTE the word DIRECTLY as there were several plays after the accidental handball before Chelsea levelled the score. Referee Moss was spot on with his decision to allow the goal.

BURNLEY V SOUTHAMPTON RESULT 0-1
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistants: Scott Ledger, Adrian Holmes
Fourth official: Michael Oliver
VAR: Mike Dean
Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday

Southampton scored early and i’m delighted to report that referee Marriner managed to steer the game to a close without any controversial decisions. However it is evident that Burnley manager needs to sign more players if they are to make advances in the Premier League this season.
Well done to the team of officials who oversaw a game without incident. This is a rare occurrence!

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