Matchday 1 is over and last seasons top 3 all walked away with wins. But, of course, there were some contentious moments that refs had to deal with. How did they do?
Liverpool vs Bournemouth - Senesi handball.
Anthony Taylor missed this on field and VAR did not intervene. There are question marks over if it was a red - mainly the distance - but the worrying thing about this is Sky reported that VAR said it bounced off his leg onto his arm, suggesting they completely misread the situation.
It will be interesting to hear the audio, as to if the VAR missed the actual offence or just felt there was too much against it being red.
The more I watch it the more I am leaning towards the red card, but Taylor should have at least been given the opportunity for on-field review.
Taylor did handle the Semenyo incident well.
Aston Villa vs Newcastle - Konsa red
Stonewaller and an easy decision for Craig Pawson.
Spurs vs Burnley - Dubravka penalised for holding on too long
Think it was timed at 12 seconds, so he got a bit of leeway. One thing noticed at Old Trafford was the ref penalising players for standing in the keepers way, maybe answering why it was 12 seconds not 8 for Dubravka. The first time the rule to give the opponents a corner was seemingly correct.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace - Eze goal disallowed
By the laws of the game this was 100% the correct call, Guehi moved into the wall and committed an offence. Shame that such a good strike was punished for this seemingly technical call, but Palace need to be a bit more clever here.
Man Utd vs Arsenal - Goal given
The United 'keeper was soft, Mount was soft. To give a foul here would be soft. Also worth noting the actions of Cunha, Shaw and Dorgu as the ball came in - all fouling their man. Raya had similar, arguably more, contact on 3 or 4 deadballs and dealt with them. If you are calling that a foul you may as well ban players from the 6 yard box.
Man Utd vs Arsenal - No penalty
Some United fans claiming a penalty for a Saliba challenge on Cunha, but for me the officials read this correctly. Cunha was trying to let the ball go across his body and put his foot into where Saliba put his own foot to block any shot. Contact was initiated by both and it was just a coming together. No penalty - although if the on-field ref gave it I cannot see a VAR overturn.
Leeds vs Everton - Tarkowski handball.
I think the ref got this right, but there is reason for debate. Tarkowski had his arms behind his back and the ball did deflect, but for me he has leant into the ball and used his arm to block the shot. One of those where the on field call probably gets verified either way.
Overall, I think the on-field refs had a pretty good week.
Ref Watch...
posted 2 days, 5 hours ago
No problem with either call in our game.
My problem will be when VAR awards a penalty against us (and it will) for a similar incident.
posted 2 days, 4 hours ago
Cunha was trying to let the ball go across his body and put his foot into where Saliba put his own foot to block any shot.
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Saliba committed to a tackle he in the end couldn't make. When you do that and get the opponent's foot instead, you can expect to be penalised.
No complaints as it wasn't exactly stonewall, but the more I see it, the harder I find it to see anything other than a penalty.
posted 2 days, 3 hours ago
Can anyone remember a referee going to the monitor for any games at all over the weekend, I for one can’t think of a single occasion, but I could be wrong.
If I’m not wrong, then the referees have had a brilliant weekend, which doesn’t really feel the case.
Also there was a handball in the Forest v Brentford match, which wasn’t even looked at, even though the ball travelled a long way, and the player appeared to move his arm/hand toward the ball, not dissimilar to Tarkowski.
posted 2 days, 2 hours ago
Apparently it was on the ref to not allow the free kick vs us in the first place
I felt Guehi commits a foul anyway
As great as the strike is it’s right through the gap he works to make either illegally via being too close or the shove
posted 1 day, 23 hours ago
I'm sure that there is a directive to let refs' decisions go unless it really is obviously wrong.
The only really bad decision for me was the handball in the Liverpool which was obviously deliberate and how they came to their decision was crazy. Although it was a yellow for me given the distance to goal. A lot of other calls were tight, but by their very nature they will always be hard to determine one way or the other, but tat's not controversial to me.
Getting a blatantly simple call wrong is poor, but a tight one is just a case of if it goes for you on the day
posted 1 day, 23 hours ago
comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 29 seconds ago
I'm sure that there is a directive to let refs' decisions go unless it really is obviously wrong.
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As let borderline stuff go and allow VAR to catch it if it was more serious?
posted 1 day, 23 hours ago
As in*
Its not a bad policy if the VAR is good
posted 1 day, 4 hours ago
Interesting you mention the time wating by Dubravka but not Raya, who was time wasting from minute 1, as much as possible.
I think he eventually got booked, what I don't understand is why officials let players do it 10-12 times before booking them with 5 minutes to go. Surely you nip it in the bud?
posted 1 day, 4 hours ago
I didn't mention time wasting by Dubravka.
posted 1 day, 4 hours ago
Well, the holding onto the ball rule, is essentially there to avoid time wasting.