Each week, the Video Assistant Referee sparks contention in the Premier League. Yet, how are these judgments reached, and are they sound?
During this current campaign, we delve into significant events to scrutinize and elucidate the procedures, encompassing both VAR guidelines and the Official Rules of the Game.
Andy Davies (@andydaviesref), a former official from the Select Group, boasts over a dozen seasons on the elite roster, having officiated in both the Premier League and Championship. With considerable experience at the highest echelon, he has functioned within the VAR domain in the Premier League, offering a distinctive perspective on the mechanisms, underlying logic, and guidelines executed on a Premier League matchday.
Referee: Stuart Attwell
VAR: Craig Pawson
Time: 67 minutes
Incident: Potential spot-kick for Manchester United
What happened: At the sixty-seventh minute, Bournemouth’s defender, Adrien Truffert, clashed with Manchester United’s forward, Amad Diallo, making upper-body contact. This led to the United player collapsing, asserting Truffert had towed him. The event became even more contentious as Bournemouth netted their equalizer during the subsequent counter-attack, right after referee Attwell dismissed the penalty pleas. VAR subsequently validated the decision as an appropriate on-pitch judgment.
VAR decision: The official’s ruling of no penalty following Truffert’s challenge was assessed and upheld by VAR, which judged the interaction insufficient for an infraction.
VAR review: Considering that Bournemouth scored directly after United’s penalty plea, the VAR review necessitated the nature of a formal check, instead of the routine scrutiny that would have been applicable had the goal not transpired.
VAR Pawson would have already commenced his preliminary verifications of the Truffert challenge by the point the ball had struck the back of United’s net, and he would likely have been contented with Attwell’s on-field ruling of no penalty. Nonetheless, with a Bournemouth goal now also requiring scrutiny, the process would have re-initiated, and the whole sequence of action replayed and re-examined. Pawson was satisfied that the interaction by the Bournemouth defender did not reach the requirement for an infraction and affirmed the on-field decision of no penalty as an appropriate determination.
Verdict / Insight: Referee Attwell regarded Truffert’s limb movement as typical interaction, considering the dynamic of the two players navigating across the area from a comparatively impartial stance within the penalty box, and I concur.
Contemporaneously, I felt assured that Amad, perceiving interaction, fell utterly without need, attempting to earn a spot-kick, rather than it being an illegal maneuver by the Bournemouth defender. His teammates’ response also revealed a narrative. Amad made an unwise choice to fall, and it merited no penalty kick.
Premier League
Time: 78 minutes
Incident: Spot-kick granted to Bournemouth and Harry Maguire dismissed for impeding a clear goal-scoring chance (DOGSO)
What happened: Referee Attwell further aggravated Manchester United when he signaled for a spot-kick, punishing Maguire as he seemed to perpetrate a restraining infraction on Bournemouth’s Evanilson, dragging him down when he had an unmistakable chance to convert. Attwell also classified the breach as a DOGSO offense, and consequently expelled Maguire.
VAR decision: The official’s ruling of a spot-kick and dismissal for Maguire due to the DOGSO was assessed and upheld by VAR, which judged it to be a restraining offense with no effort to contest possession of the ball.
VAR review: Scrutinizing the video footage for the Evanilson spot-kick and Maguire’s dismissal presented an uncomplicated examination for Pawson. Bear in mind, the pitch-side judgment will always be sustained unless conclusive footage demonstrates an evident misjudgment by the officiating crew.
Referee Attwell’s explanation characterized Maguire’s conduct as an undeniable restraining infraction, with no effort to engage with the ball, and his actions impeding an unmistakable chance to score. The video assessment revealed no divergence, with both the spot-kick and ensuing dismissal considered appropriate by Pawson. He verified and approved both outcomes.
Verdict / Insight: The ruling to grant Evanilson a spot-kick and an ensuing dismissal for Maguire has certainly generated debate, with individuals disputing the extent of interaction made by Maguire, and whether it affected the forward’s ability to remain upright and attempt a shot at goal.
When one analyzes the specifics of Maguire’s maneuver, it’s challenging to contend against his sanction, as it represented an undeniable and intentional maneuver to hinder and even prevent his adversary from potentially netting, while making utterly no effort to engage with the ball.
The extent of the restraint can be discussed; nevertheless, the conduct, proof of interaction, and his intent are apparent, so I am content with the result of a spot-kick and dismissal in this scenario. Similarly, considering all the footage on the replays, this is not a ruling I would anticipate a VAR involvement.