Officially Speaking – with Keith Hackett
After three long, but entirely necessary months, I am glad to welcome Keith Hackett back to the blog!
It is the former FIFA referee’s birthday today and I’m sure you’ll join me in wishing Keith a very happy birthday.
Saturday 20th June 2020 and Sunday 21st June 2020
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace
REFEREE CORRECT DECISION
One of the clues that match officials operate when looking at potential ‘ARM/ELBOW’ offences of this type is to look at the player’s hand. If a player is going to use his arm/elbow as a weapon, he will do so with a clenched fist. Therefore on the replay, the evidence supports the referee’s decision not to issue a red card.
REFEREE INCORRECT DECISION – SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A YELLOW CARD FOR RECKLESS CHALLENGE
When a player makes a challenge for the ball, he has a duty of care towards his opponent. You cannot use the ball has an excuse or in defence. Cahill’s challenge caught his opponent’s leg just above the ankle, resulting in the player taking no further part in the game. Cahill should have received a yellow card for a clear, reckless challenge.
West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
REFEREE/VAR CORRECT DECISION
Defender clearly plays the ball and the attacker goes to ground easily.
Anthony Taylor and VAR correct to call NO PENALTY KICK. Referee Taylor made up a lot of ground to be in a good position to make the decision. A good piece of officiating and he has now delivered two very good performances since lockdown.
Newcastle United v Sheffield United
REFEREE CORRECT TO SEND OFF JOHN EGAN SHEFFIELD UNITED
The referee David Coote decided to opt for safety first by issuing a second yellow card for the clear holding offence. It was a tactical foul preventing a promising attack. Players, of course, cannot appeal a yellow but they can with a red card. Frankly, the offence fulfilled the ‘Denial of an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity’ and Coote could have issued an instant red card.
The player can have no regrets having been caught out of position.
REFEREE CORRECT – NO PENALTY KICK
The referee was correct not to award a penalty kick to Newcastle United. The ball struck Egan on the elbow earlier in the game when a long-range shot on goal by Newcastle United’s Shelvey. The defender was turning his back and attempting to withdraw his arm/elbow. Not deliberate handball.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United
REFEREE WRONG TO AWARD PENALTY KICK – DECISION CORRECTLY OVERTURNED BY VAR (90th MINUTE)
The referee was in close proximity and awarded a penalty kick. However, from a different viewing angle afforded the VAR, the penalty kick decision is overturned. It was a good decision by the VAR on this occasion.
REFEREE CORRECT DECISION (79th MINUTE)
Pogba with some skill gets past Tottenham’s Dier, who in making a challenge fouled his opponent with his upper body and arm. This left the referee with a clear penalty kick decision which was reviewed by VAR and upheld.
Manchester City vs Arsenal
REFEREE CORRECT TO ISSUE RED CARD TO DAVID LUIZ OF ARSENAL
This was a clear foul challenge by the Arsenal player and Anthony Taylor was in an excellent position to point to the penalty mark.
The offence denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and Luiz was correctly shown the red card.
Aston Villa vs Sheffield United
The opening game of the season brought about the most contentious incident. The ball has been carried over the line and went undetected by the Goal Line Technology equipment.
REFEREE INCORRECT VAR INCORRECT
The goalkeeper of Aston Villa was in possession of the ball in his hands and was pushed over the goal line by a teammate. Television replays showed very clearly that the ball had crossed the goal line and a goal should be awarded. For the first time in over 9000 games, the Goal Line Technology the system produced by Hawkeye failed. I think that is rather amazing when you have seven cameras at various angles surrounding one goal. Yes, 14 cameras are in operation for Goal Line Technology. The Assistant was ideally positioned to flag but sadly he did not wave. VAR had the opportunity to intervene it did not. This was a disaster for the opening game of the Premier League restart.
Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal
A coming together of the Arsenal Goalkeeper and Brighton player Neal Maupay resulted sadly in the Arsenal goalkeeper been stretchered off. It was a footballing accident but none the less at the end of the game we witnessed Arsenal’s Matteo Guendouzi grabbing the throat of Maupay to register his dissatisfaction with the challenge. Now we have to wait to see if Referee Martin Atkinson saw this offence. If not, then I expect the Football Association to act
Everton vs Liverpool
The main talking-point was that Referee Mike Dean grew a beard during the lockdown! In what was the dullest Merseyside derby I have ever witnessed Dean’s beard was the main talking point.
This demonstrated for me how much impact the crowd have during a Premier League game.
Keith Hackett
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