Video assistant referee causes controversy every week whether it be the Premier League, Champions League or FA Cup, but how are decisions made and are they correct?
This season, we take a look at the major incidents to examine and explain the process both in terms of VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game.
Andy Davies (@andydaviesref) is a former Select Group referee, with over 12 seasons on the elite list, working across the Premier League and Championship. With extensive experience at the elite level, he has operated within the VAR space in the Premier League and offers a unique insight into the processes, rationale and protocols that are delivered on a Premier League matchday.
Referee: Michael Oliver
VAR: Paul Howard
Time: 17 minutes
Incident: Possible penalty to Man City
What happened: City’s Rayan Cherki tries to step around Liverpool defender Milos Kerkez, who made a challenge for the ball. Cherki ended up on the floor as his City teammates demanded a penalty. Pep Guardiola, who was watching the game from the stands due to a touchline ban, looked indignant when TV cameras showed him looking at a replay.
VAR decision: Referee Michael Oliver decided no penalty given, with VAR quickly checking and agreeing. VAR deemed that Kerkez’s challenge was not a foul.
Verdict: As we always discuss, the starting point for any review is with the referee’s on-field decision and their rationale given. On-field communications from referee Oliver described Kerkez playing the ball in the first contact, with the second contact created by both the attacker and the defender’s natural movement and no foul action by the defender. The VAR was comfortable that the referee’s interpretation of the incident in real time matched that of the replays and cleared the decision as correct.
It is the right call. City players showed their frustrations, but for a penalty to be awarded a clear foul would have had to have taken place to send the referee to the pitchside monitor. As described by Oliver, the second contact, which left Cherki on the floor, was a combination of both players’ natural movement with inevitable contact being made. There will be a view that Cherki dragged his left leg to try and find contact and create a foul, and there is evidence of this being the case.
These types of situations can be misread by a referee. However, Oliver was well positioned and judged the incident for what it was.
Time: 38 minutes
Incident: Penalty awarded to Man City
What happened: Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk challenged Nico O’Reilly in the penalty with the city player ending up on the floor. Referee Michael Oliver did not hesitate and pointed to the penalty spot.
VAR decision: It was a very quick review for VAR Paul Howard. He was happy the on-field decision was correct and cleared the decision.
Verdict: It is a mystery why Van Dijk seemed so upset with the referee’s decision. It was without a doubt the correct decision. The Liverpool captain was late with his tackle and made no contact with the ball. It was a clear foul and penalty.
Time: 38 minutes
Incident: Penalty awarded to Liverpool
What happened: Man City defender Matheus Nunes caught Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike late with a challenge in the City area. Referee Oliver had a great position and awarded a penalty to Liverpool.
VAR decision: The on-field decision of a penalty kick was checked and cleared.
Verdict: This was a very straightforward review for the VAR, and, in truth, he would have known his position in real time as it was such an obvious and unnecessary foul by Nunes. However, a full check process must still be completed using three alternative camera angles to confirm that he was comfortable the on-field decision was correct.
A correct on-field decision by Michael Oliver, and not one that would have tested him too much. The challenge was late, unnecessary and a strange decision by Nunes, as Ekitike was running to the goal line with little danger.
From a VAR perspective, they don’t get simpler than that as an incident review. It was a good afternoon for Oliver and VAR Paul Howard following a week when VAR had had a lot of negative noise — three in four match-going fans in England have opposed VAR in a survey.
The officiating team at Etihad Stadium will be pleased with their work.
