The VAR Review: Dias on Vicario; Newcastle’s ‘handball’ goal

Video Assistant Referee causes controversy each week, however how are selections made, and are they right?

After every weekend we check out the key incidents to look at and clarify the method each by way of VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game. This week, it is an FA Cup fourth-round particular.

– How VAR selections have affected each Prem membership in 2023-24
– VAR within the Premier League: Ultimate information

In this week’s VAR Review: Manchester City’s profitable goal in opposition to Tottenham Hotspur was hotly debated for a potential foul on goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, and will Luton Town’s opener have counted in opposition to Everton? Plus, a potential handball within the buildup to Newcastle United’s first goal at Fulham.

Possible disallowed goal: Dias problem on Vicario

What occurred: Manchester City gained the sport within the 88th minute when Nathan Aké compelled the ball house from shut vary following a nook routine, however there was a VAR test for a potential foul on goalkeeper Vicario by Rúben Dias (watch here.)

VAR determination: Goal stands.

VAR assessment: We’ve seen a handful of conditions just lately the place there was contact between an attacking participant and a goalkeeper earlier than a goal.

On every event the VAR has chosen to not overrule the choice of the referee, an end result backed up by the Premier League’s Independent Key Match Incidents Panel.

Consistency is concerning the level of the VAR intervention, quite than the ultimate determination.

Earlier this month, Luton Town scored a controversial injury-time equaliser at Burnley, with the house aspect adamant that goalkeeper James Trafford had been fouled by Elijah Adebayo. There was motion into the goalkeeper by the striker, with the Independent Panel feeling a foul was the higher determination on-field — nevertheless it did not attain the brink for a transparent and apparent error for VAR.

More relevant to the Vicario state of affairs was Arsenal’s second goal in opposition to Crystal Palace final weekend, when Ben White gave the impression to be in the way in which of goalkeeper Dean Henderson as he tried to punch a nook clear. The panel unanimously backed the referee’s determination, saying that “any contact is initiated by Henderson.”

Likewise on Friday, each Vicario and Dias had been pushing one another earlier than Kevin De Bruyne’s nook was delivered. When the cross did are available in, Dias was in entrance of the goalkeeper and held his floor. If the City participant had made an apparent block, altering his place to forestall the goalkeeper from difficult, that may have been clearer grounds for the VAR to get entangled.

Man City skilled an identical state of affairs earlier this season in opposition to Liverpool, when Manuel Akanji was penalised for having an arm on Alisson earlier than Dias scored. That goal was dominated out on the sector; once more the VAR had upheld the choice of the referee quite than get entangled.

Only one goal has been disallowed by VAR for a foul on the goalkeeper this season, when Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey was holding onto the arm of Sheffield United goalkeeper Wes Foderingham as he tried to punch clear.

Possible disallowed goal: Foul by Barkley on Calvert-Lewin

What occurred: Luton took the lead within the thirty ninth minute when Vitalii Mykolenko deflected the ball into his personal internet following a nook routine. However, Dominic Calvert-Lewin was adamant he was pushed within the again by Ross Barkley on the close to publish. Was there a case for the goal to be disallowed?

VAR determination: Goal stands.

VAR assessment: This will cut up opinion, however you possibly can perceive the frustration of Everton boss Sean Dyche. Plenty of refereeing incidents have gone in opposition to his crew — none extra so than the VAR pink card proven to Calvert-Lewin within the final spherical of the FA Cup, which was overturned by the Football Association on attraction.

Barkley has each palms on the again of Calvert-Lewin, although the replays counsel any push was negligible. If you are Dyche and also you see two palms on your participant’s again, which impacts his capacity to forestall the nook supply getting previous the close to publish, you are going to be aggrieved. But was there actually sufficient for the VAR to get entangled?

The finest comparability comes with Newcastle’s profitable goal in opposition to Arsenal in November, when Joelinton had each arms on the again of defender Gabriel earlier than Anthony Gordon scored. The Independent Panel dominated that the VAR was proper to not get entangled at St James’ Park, and whereas it would not sit to evaluate the FA Cup ties it could doubtless attain the identical conclusion.

That will not be of any comfort for Dyche, who accused the VAR of re-refereeing after Calvert-Lewin had a goal dominated out at Tottenham for a foul within the buildup by André Gomes on Emerson Royal (the Independent Panel backed this intervention, too.) It’s onerous to argue there’s an enormous quantity distinction in that sort of foul, and the one which wasn’t penalized for Luton’s opener on Saturday. Is a push actually that a lot totally different from a barge when assessing a foul and a VAR intervention?

For all of Dyche’s complaints, Everton do not have a VAR error logged in opposition to them this season.

Possible disallowed goal: Handball earlier than scoring

What occurred: Newcastle took the lead within the thirty ninth minute by Sean Longstaff, however was there a case for the goal to be disallowed for a handball within the buildup?

VAR determination: Goal stands.

VAR assessment: The handball regulation was amended in the summertime of 2021 to say that unintentional attacking handball can solely be penalised if it is by the goal scorer, to cut back the variety of targets that had been being dominated out by the VAR for seemingly inconsequential touches of the arm.

The ball was kicked in opposition to the arm of Bruno Guimarães, nevertheless it was tucked into his physique; to be penalised, the Brazil worldwide would want his arm prolonged from his physique, or have made a deliberate motion to the ball. Neither had been current so the VAR, Tony Harrington, was proper to not intervene.

In September, the ball unintentionally touched the hand of Newcastle’s Gordon earlier than he created a goal in opposition to Sheffield United for Longstaff — so the midfielder has twice benefitted from a “handball assist” this season.

Coincidentally, there was a high-profile handball incident which went in opposition to Fulham and brought on big controversy in March 2021 — the day earlier than it was introduced the handball regulation can be modified. The ball was kicked in opposition to the arm of Mario Lemina, and it dropped for Josh Maja to attain — however the VAR needed to disallow what was an equalising goal in opposition to Tottenham for unintentional attacking handball by the participant who assisted the goal. Lemina had his arm by his aspect and will do nothing concerning the ball hitting it.

Fulham actually benefitted from the regulation change final season in opposition to Crystal Palace. The ball hit the arm of Aleksandar Mitrovic earlier than Tim Ream scored, and the goal was allowed.

Aston Villa, although, had been on the incorrect finish of the unintentional attacking handball regulation of their 0-0 draw at Chelsea on Friday. Moussa Diaby noticed his Twelfth-minute shot blocked, the ball then got here off the arm of Douglas Luiz earlier than it went into the web at Stamford Bridge; as he was the goal scorer it needed to be dominated out by the VAR.

Possible penalty: Handball by Burn

What occurred: In the 56th minute, Kenny Tete collected the ball inside the realm and tried to cross it, however the ball flicked off Dan Burn. Was there a case for a penalty for handball?

VAR determination: No penalty.

VAR assessment: It’s not clear if the ball did hit the arm of Burn, or it was his chest.

But the defender has his arm tucked into his physique, so there have been no grounds for a VAR penalty.

Possible penalty overturn: Bogle foul on Pedro

What occurred: Brighton & Hove Albion had been awarded a penalty within the twenty seventh minute when João Pedro was introduced down by Jayden Bogle. Referee Sunny Sukhvir Gill pointed to the penalty spot with the choice checked by the VAR, Darren Bond.

VAR determination: Penalty stands, scored by Pedro.

VAR assessment: On first view it appeared like Pedro had gone down very simply following the problem from Bogle.

Yet the reverse angle clearly confirmed that the attacker had been kicked on the calf by the Sheffield United participant. This determination was by no means going to be modified on VAR assessment.

Possible penalty overturn: Handball by Bogle

What occurred: Brighton got a second spot kick within the fiftieth minute when Bogle challenged Evan Ferguson, with the referee ruling that the ball had hit the raised hand of the Sheffield United participant.

VAR determination: Penalty stands, scored by Pedro.

VAR assessment: You do not get a significantly better instance of a defender having their arm in an unnatural place outstretched from their physique. Why Bogle selected to try to problem for a excessive ball with each arms within the air is anybody’s guess, however any contact on this state of affairs was going to lead to a penalty.

Bogle protested his innocence, and the VAR did test to verify the ball did contact the arm, however there was no proof to counsel that the on-field name of a spot kick was incorrect.