The video assistant referee (VAR) stirs up debate each week in the Premier League. How are match decisions made, and are they accurate?
This season, we delve into significant incidents to analyze and clarify the process concerning VAR protocols and the Laws of the Game.
Image credit: BBC, TNT
Andy Davies (@andydaviesref) is a former Select Group referee with more than 12 years on the elite list, officiating in both the Premier League and Championship. His extensive experience includes working within the VAR framework in the Premier League, providing a unique perspective on the processes, reasoning, and protocols observed during a Premier League matchday.
Manchester City 2-1 Newcastle United
Referee: Tom Bramall
VAR: James Bell
Time: 42 minutes
Incident: Disallowed goal for offside.
Incident Details: Dan Burn of Newcastle scored from a Sandro Tonali free kick, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Replays indicated that Burn was pushed into an offside position by Manchester City defender Rúben Dias.
VAR Decision: VAR reviewed the on-field decision to disallow the goal and confirmed that an offside violation had occurred.
VAR Analysis: VAR Bell recognized that there was a deliberate action by Dias against Burn before the goal opportunity arose. Despite Burn being offside at the time of scoring, the key focus of the VAR review was the foul preceding the goal and whether it met the criteria for a penalty kick.
This action was clearly a push; however, the ball was not in play when this occurred, leaving VAR without grounds to intervene.
According to Law 12, direct and indirect free kicks and penalties can only be awarded for offenses committed while the ball is in play.
Conclusion: Upon reviewing the situation, it’s understandable that Newcastle players and supporters may feel aggrieved. However, it was a calculated move by Dias and the City defense, who adeptly navigated the rules to time the push perfectly. Since the laws were adhered to, and the contact happened prior to the ball being in play, there was no infringement to warrant intervention from VAR unless an act of violent conduct was observed, which did not apply here.
Time: 51 minutes
Incident: Possible second yellow card for Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva
Incident Details: Silva, already cautioned, appeared to jump into Burn without attempting to play the ball. Was he lucky to avoid a second yellow card?
VAR Decision: The VAR deemed this not to be a potential red card challenge and, according to the current regulations, they cannot intervene in cases involving potential second yellow cards, only in instances of direct red cards.
Conclusion: For a referee to issue a second yellow card in such a scenario, the challenge must be immediately perceived as deserving of a caution without hesitation. In isolation, Silva’s challenge might seem deserving of a second yellow, given the lack of attempt to play the ball.
Nevertheless, within the context of a physical match, this incident was not a glaring misconduct that would cause serious concern for Bramall in real-time.
In high-pressure situations, an instinctive approach is often more effective, and in this case, managing the game sensibly without awarding a second yellow seems to have been the right decision.