Officially Speaking – with Keith Hackett
WEEK 31 PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREE PERFORMANCE
FULHAM V WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS Result 0-1
Referee: Jonathan Moss. Assistants: Marc Perry, Dan Robathan. Fourth official: Robert Jones. VAR: David Coote. Assistant VAR: Stephen Child.
We see yet another goal ruled out because of the current nonsense that we have in our game. This time it was Wolves who were on the receiving end.
The shoulder is now part of the body that can now be used to score a goal. You can see from the still photograph from the goal how tight the call is. However, with over fifty years of officiating in football, I have serious doubts about the accuracy of the decision. With camera speeds operating at 50 frames per second – compared to the camera speeds of the ones used around the Goal Line Technology of 500 frames per second – it puts the accuracy of the frame selection into doubt.
- Was the layer in that position when the ball was played to him? Yes, timing issues raise doubt for me.
- Which frame did the operator use?
- How accurate are the angles of the lines drawn remembering that bloke the assistant referee, the camera is not in line with the second rear-most defender to make this judgement?
If the system is reliable, why did FIFA announce that they will be operating new technology for offside decisions at the next World Cup? I would therefore recommend that the PGMOL stop using the lines and step back one pace and get the Assistant VAR to judge just like they do in the MLS.
Wolves’ winning goal saw Referee Moss apply a great advantage that allowed the attack to continue, and which resulted in the winning goal – Well done Jon Moss a good piece of refereeing.
Jon Moss has officiated 20 games season to date in the Premier League issuing 1 red and 50 yellow cards.
SATURDAY 10TH APRIL 2021
MANCHESTER CITY V LEEDS UNITED Result 1-2
Referee: Andre Marriner. Assistants: Scott Ledger, Richard West. Fourth official: Peter Bankes. VAR: David Coote. Assistant VAR: Peter Kirkup.
There should have been an early penalty kick awarded to the home team after Cooper of Leeds United was guilty of holding and pulling Manchester City Stones’ shirt. It was a clear and obvious error and VAR Coote should have come to the aid of referee Marriner.
In added time of the first half Referee Marriner held the yellow card high issuing it to Cooper of Leeds. This time VAR was alert and suggested that the referee should review the incident on the monitor. He did and then correctly changed the yellow to red for what was a challenge that endangered the safety of the Chelsea player.
It was a poor piece of officiating by Marriner who on the first view should have produced an instant red card.
The law defines why it was red and reads: Using excessive force is when a exceeds the necessary use of force and/or endangers the safety of an opponent and must be sent off.
Leeds went into the dressing room one goal ahead after Dallas had latched onto a Bamford pass to score the opening goal.
Torres scored Manchester City’s only goal and I was surprised that VAR did not use the offside lines to check that the Manchester City player was onside in the build-up to the goal. It was a close call.
Leeds United’s Raphina came in for some rough treatment. He was caught by Sterling and this was certainly a foul challenge, so I was not anticipating any sanction of a card on that one. However, the second foul this time by Fernandinho was reckless and the Liverpool player should have seen yellow. VAR of course cannot intervene on yellow card offences.
Leeds United’s Dallas scored the winning goal in added time in the second half.
Andre Marriner season to date has officiated 21 games in the Premier League issuing 3 red and 80 yellow cards.
LIVERPOOL V ASTON VILLA Result 2-1
Referee: Paul Tierney. Assistants: Simon Bennett, Constantine Hatzidakis. Fourth official: Chris Kavanagh. VAR: Andy Madley. Assistant VAR: Adrian Holmes.
The game opened with a rare error by Mings as Liverpool’s Salah gained possession of the ball only to strike it wide. It was a big miss for Liverpool’s regular scorer.
Aston Villa took the lead from a strike by Ollie Watkins. Referee Tierney was adopting a low-key approach, allowing the game to flow in an empty stadium void of fans.
Farinah scored an equalising goal, only to see it ruled out with yet another VAR offside intervention. Oh dear, our great game keeps shooting itself in the foot with this continuing nonsense.
Salah equlised for Liverpool eleven minutes into the second half.
Aston Villa’s Trezeguet was unlucky not to score as his shot hit the inside of the goal post and bounced out before Alexander-Arnold scored Liverpool’s winning goal.
Referee Tierney Season to date has officiated 23 games season to date issuing 86 yellow cards and 3 red cards. 20 of these games have been in the middle of Premier League matches
CRYSTAL PALACE V CHELSEA Result 1-4
Referee: Michael Oliver. Assistants: Stuart Burt, Dan Cook. Fourth official: Graham Scott. VAR: Mike Dean. Assistant VAR: Ian Hussin.
A relatively easy win for Chelsea with another game officiated in a positive manner by our top referee Michael Oliver. He is full of confidence and allowed the game to take place without undue interference.
This was Oliver’s 36th game in the middle season to date, having issued 110 yellow cards and 4 red cards. 24 of the 36 are Premier League games where he has issued 3 red and 70 yellow cards. This I would suggest is a busy season for Oliver who will be hoping that he gets selected for the upcoming World Cup.
SUNDAY APRIL 11TH
BURNLEY V NEWCASTLE UNITED Result 1-2
Referee: Anthony Taylor. Assistants: Gary Beswick, Lee Betts. Fourth official: Paul Tierney. VAR: Stuart Attwell. Assistant VAR: Nick Hopton.
Newcastle United had every right to complain when they were not awarded a Penalty Kick after a Burnley player’s high boot met his opponent’s head.
It was a foul and should have seen the penalty kick awarded by Referee Taylor who was close to play with a good view.
Taylor’s decision was compounded when VAR Attwell did not intervene on what was a clear and obvious error.
I worry about the law knowledge of the PGMOL spokespersons who advised Sky analysts that Taylor’s decision was correct having played the ball first. What abject nonsense.
WEST HAM UNITED V LEICESTER CITY Result 3-2
Referee: Mike Dean. Assistants: Ian Hussin, Mark Scholes. Fourth official: Simon Hooper. VAR: Michael Oliver. Assistant VAR: Dan Cook.
What a superb record by West Hams Noble playing his 400th Premier League game.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR V MANCHESTER UNITED Result 1-3
Referee: Chris Kavanagh. Assistants: Adam Nunn, Sian Massey-Ellis. Fourth official: Andre Marriner. VAR: Craig Pawson. Assistant VAR: Harry Lennard.
This was generally a poor performance by the referee whose movement around the field of play was lethargic and his decision-making poor.
In the opening stages, Paul Pogba was lucky not to be sanctioned for the illegal use of the arm/elbow on an opponent.
The main talking-point in this game was Manchester United having a legitimate goal ruled out. The referee saw it as a foul in the build-up to the goal. He was advised to go to the monitor by VAR Pawson.
To most independent observers what had taken place was accidental. Kavanagh however ruled out the goal, judging that McTominay had used his hand/arm illegally against Son. The incident appear to act as a catalyst to motivate United to their deserved win.
SHEFFIELD UNITED V ARSENAL Result 0-3
Referee: Peter Bankes. Assistants: Neil Davies, James Mainwaring. Fourth official: Lee Mason. VAR: Jarred Gillett. Assistant VAR: Stephen Child.
An easy win for Arsenal
MONDAY 12TH APRIL
WEST BROM ALBION V SOUTHAMPTON Result 3-0
Referee: Simon Hooper. Assistants: Harry Lennard, Derek Eaton. Fourth official: Craig Pawson. VAR: Kevin Friend. Assistant VAR: Simon Beck.
Just when you believe that VAR could not make any more mistakes, the first goal scored by West Brom in their fight against relegation was ruled out in a bizarre manner.
It was clear that the player who scored was clearly onside before VAR was asked to make a judgment.
Whilst VAR was trying to get the lines on the player who had scored, its default position was picking up on a West Brom player who was stood offside but not involved in active play, So not committing an offence.
Without going back to confirm the goal, they decided to go with the assistant’s incorrect flag and rule the goal out. What nonsense when you could see on the video clip that the player was onside.
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