Fabinho, Konate escape red cards at Brighton

The Video Assistant Referee causes controversy each week, and we’re looking at all the massive incidents. On Sunday, there have been three high-profile doable VAR interventions as Brighton & Hove Albion beat Liverpool 2-1 within the FA Cup (stream a replay on ESPN+, U.S. solely.) The choices stayed on-field, however was that the proper name by the VAR?

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Possible red card: Fabinho foul on Ferguson

What occurred: In the 86th minute, Evan Ferguson had turned Fabinho and was searching for a move. The Liverpool midfielder tried to sort out the Brighton striker however caught him on the Achilles together with his studs. Referee David Coote confirmed Fabinho a yellow card.

VAR choice: No red card.

VAR overview: The VAR, Neil Swarbrick, appeared at this problem for a while and finally determined a yellow card was an appropriate disciplinary consequence, however all of the proof would counsel he is received the choice mistaken.

Even if the referee advised the VAR he noticed that the contact was above the boot however the problem did not have the required drive for a red card, the character of the problem itself needs to be endangering the protection of an opponent.

Fabinho has no prospect of successful the ball, and he goes above the boot, with a lunging movement and with studs main into Ferguson, who was pressured off injured.

Swarbrick, the Premier League’s head of VAR, ought to have advised Coote he had made an error and despatched him to the monitor for a red-card overview. It’s fairly merely a extremely poor VAR choice.

We typically see challenges with contact above the boot lead solely to a reserving, and that may be a good choice if it would not fairly cross the subjective threshold from yellow to red. And within the 91st-minute, we noticed precisely this when Andy Robertson was booked for a problem on Alexis Mac Allister. The photos could look very comparable, however the nature of the challenges are totally different.

Robertson stepped into the problem and mistimed it, catching the Brighton participant simply above the boot line. However, this sort out did not include to degree of extreme drive which might be wanted for the VAR to determine a yellow card wasn’t justifiable. On this one, there was no want for the VAR to get entangled — whether or not the referee had proven a red or a yellow card.

Possible red card: Konate problem on

What occurred: In the 82nd minute, Mac Allister raced onto a protracted ball excessive however went to floor beneath a problem from Ibrahima Konate. The ball ran by way of to goalkeeper Alisson, and the referee waved play on.

VAR choice: No red card.

VAR overview: Konate was already on a yellow at the time, however the VAR can’t inform the referee he has missed a foul and it ought to be a reserving. However, though the doable foul was outdoors the realm, there could be a VAR overview for a straight red card for denying an apparent goal-scoring alternative.

As Mac Allister runs by way of on aim, he’s first to the ball and can clearly have the ability to get it beneath management. In addition, the ball would not have run by way of to the goalkeeper earlier than the Brighton participant took possession for a shot on aim.

That means if it is a foul, it needs to be a red card. So the VAR can solely have determined it wasn’t a foul. And the proof would not actually assist that.

Konate has little interest in taking part in the ball, which by itself would not should be an offence if the participant is utilizing his energy in a shoulder-to-shoulder problem. But the Liverpool defender seems to barge Mac Allister over, and he makes a connection together with his arm on the opponent’s head.

This is not fairly as sure because the missed Fabhino red card, however once more a Liverpool participant can take into account himself very lucky to escape VAR red.

Possible foul: Handball by Keita within the buildup to Elliott aim

What occurred: Liverpool took the lead within the thirtieth minute when Mohamed Salah arrange Harvey Elliott to attain, however there was a VAR verify at the beginning of the transfer, involving Naby Keita earlier than he handed to Salah. Brighton gamers have been interesting for handball.

VAR choice: Goal stands.

VAR overview: As the doable handball offence was not by the aim scorer, both it needs to be a deliberate act or the participant should have his arms in an sudden place for his physique motion.

Crucially, the ball comes off Keita’s leg earlier than in all probability touching his arm. The deflection off the physique can be a qualifying exemption towards a handball offence — however a deliberate act would nonetheless supersede this.

Some angles counsel the ball may not have truly touched Keita’s arm, however even when it did, there isn’t any suggestion of a deliberate act. On this one, the VAR made the proper name.