'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQf/2gAIAQEAAAAAl4P/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAF/9oACAECEAAAAAP/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAEDEAAAAD//xAAiEAAABgEDBQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAwQREhMFAAIhBhQWQWH/2gAIAQEAAT8ATdMpwxlJmExVwkCX3O5QdKcWsiHH1teEHhxcmFvbDr//xAAYEQACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgMVMf/aAAgBAgEBPwC5mfVU/8QAGREAAQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgABAzGx/9oACAEDAQE/ADnM7xl//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Ever since its introduction to the Premier League in the 2019-20 season, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has been a constant source of controversy. The system produced so many questionable calls during its debut season that many fans were hoping it’d be axed altogether coming into 2020-21.
However, the Premier League has retained VAR's services, and unfortunately, the system has continued to cause issues during the current campaign. It often seems that every gameweek features at least one questionable VAR decision, whether it’s to do with a handball, offside, or penalty call.
With 10 games now gone in the Premier League’s 2020-21 season, here are the five most controversial VAR decisions of the campaign to date.
#1 Eric Dier handball – Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Newcastle United, September 27th, 2020
In September, Tottenham Hotspur’s home game with Newcastle United looked like it’d be a simple three points for Jose Mourinho’s men. They bossed the match from the start and were somehow able to have 12 shots on target, only for Newcastle keeper Karl Darlow to thwart them time after time.
But as the game ticked into its dying seconds, it looked like Lucas Moura’s first-half goal would be enough to seal things. However, that idea was blown apart by a VAR intervention that even had commentator Jamie Carragher groaning in horror.
Newcastle pinged a late free-kick into the box, and Andy Carroll rose to head it, only for Spurs to send the ball clear. However, upon a VAR check, the officials managed to decide that Eric Dier had actually handled the ball and awarded Newcastle a penalty.
The replay did seem to show some contact with Dier’s arm. But the England defender’s back was to the ball, and his arm was only flailing due to his attempt to out-jump Carroll. It was certainly not a deliberate infraction, nor did it impact on the ball’s trajectory.
Still, referee Peter Bankes was forced to point to the spot – allowing Callum Wilson to equalize, essentially robbing Tottenham of two points.
This was VAR at its worst. Not only was the system offering an intervention when the referee had not made a “clear and obvious” error, but it was enforcing a pedantic rule around handball that has since been dropped by the Premier League.
The fact that even Newcastle boss Steve Bruce disagreed with the call showed that this was an appalling decision from VAR.
#2 Sadio Mane offside – Everton 2-2 Liverpool, October 17th, 2020
The Merseyside derby is often a match filled with drama, and this October’s version was no different. The game was already a controversial one due to VAR’s failure to review a dangerous tackle from Everton’s Jordan Pickford on Virgil van Dijk – who had apparently strayed offside. But much worse was to come.
With the match tied up at 2-2 heading into stoppage time, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson fired a low shot towards goal from just inside the box. Somehow, the ball squirmed under Pickford and into the net, and the Reds believed they’d won the game.
Except VAR decided they hadn’t. Despite referee Michael Oliver awarding the goal, a VAR check apparently showed that Sadio Mane – who provided the assist to Henderson – was offside. However, images appeared to show that two Everton defenders were narrowly playing him on.
If the Senegalese forward was offside, the only advantage he could possibly have gained on the defenders could’ve been measured in millimeters. And even then, he had to play an accurate pass in order for Henderson to score.
In his post-match interview, Henderson even went as far as claiming that the VAR team had “bent the lines” in order to decide Mane was offside. And while that was probably inaccurate, it was certainly another massively controversial VAR call.
After all, the offside rule was brought in to prevent goal-hanging – not to allow VAR to chalk off perfectly good goals for a matter of millimeters.
#3 Patrick Bamford offside – Crystal Palace 4-1 Leeds United, November 7th, 2020
VAR’s decision to chalk off Liverpool’s goal against Everton for an apparent offside was a remarkably bad decision. However, it was par for the course in terms of VAR and offsides. Fans had seen decisions that were just as bad throughout 2019-20.
The decision to chalk off a Patrick Bamford goal for Leeds United in their defeat at Crystal Palace, on the other hand, was simply inexcusable.
With Marcelo Bielsa’s side chasing an equalizer following an early goal from Palace, Bamford found himself in space between two Palace defenders just inside the box.
He pointed to exactly where he wanted teammate Mateusz Klich to put the ball – and the Pole delivered perfectly, allowing Bamford to dart in and flick the ball over the Palace keeper into the net.
It looked like one of the most cleverly-worked goals in the Premier League season thus far, but that was before VAR had its say.
The VAR officials in Stockley Park alerted referee Chris Kavanagh to a potential offside – and the replay revealed that the offender was Bamford. Somehow, VAR had decided that despite Nathaniel Clyne clearly standing ahead of the striker, his extended, pointing arm had strayed into an offside position.
Quite how VAR had come to that decision was baffling, particularly when you consider that the part of Bamford that was offside – his extended arm – would be the part of the body he’d be unable to score with anyway.
The goal was immediately chalked off, and Leeds ended up collapsing to a 4-1 defeat – becoming another victim of VAR's incompetency.
#4 Pascal Gross penalty – Brighton 1-1 Liverpool, November 28th, 2020
Brighton & Hove Albion’s home match with Liverpool this Saturday appeared to be heading into the realm of missed opportunities for Graham Potter’s men. They’d played excellently and had even missed a penalty against the champions.
But despite VAR chalking off two Liverpool goals for offside – one questionable call and one correct – it looked like Diogo Jota’s strike would be enough to win the match for the Reds. However, once again, VAR would have the final say – leaving plenty of Liverpool fans to cry conspiracy.
With the match in its dying moments, the ball found its way to Brighton striker Danny Welbeck inside the penalty area. However, before Welbeck could shoot, Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson shot in to clear the ball away.
Both sides continued to play – and even Welbeck, who stumbled to the ground, didn’t appeal for a penalty. However, VAR then alerted referee Stuart Attwell to a possible infringement. And after viewing the footage, Attwell pointed to the spot.
Somehow, VAR had decided to advise Attwell that Robertson had connected with the foot of Welbeck while clearing the ball, despite actually winning the challenge.
Pascal Gross duly dispatched the spot-kick, leaving a furious Jurgen Klopp to rage against the officials as he left the field.
This was clearly a bad call from VAR, but what made it even more confusing was the events of the previous week. Both Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion had been awarded penalties against Brighton and Manchester United, respectively – only for VAR to chalk them off as the offending player had apparently connected with the ball as well as the attacker.
So how was Robertson’s tackle any different to those? To be honest, it was hard to say. And the decision now stands as another example of VAR’s massive inconsistencies.
#5 Ollie Watkins offside – West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa, November 30th, 2020
The latest bizarre VAR call came from West Ham United’s 2-1 victory over Aston Villa at the London Stadium. West Ham had been leading the game for the majority of the second half, even clinging onto their lead when Ollie Watkins hit the bar with a penalty.
However, in added time, it appeared that Watkins had gotten the last laugh. The Villa striker was able to break free from Hammers defender Angelo Ogbonna and swept a Matt Targett cross past keeper Lukas Fabianski to seemingly claim his seventh goal of the season.
But despite Watkins’ celebrations – and referee Peter Bankes happy to award the goal – VAR stepped in and began an agonizingly long check. The check ended nearly three minutes later – and decided that the Villa striker was offside.
There were a number of issues with this VAR call. Firstly – like the offside calls against Mane and Bamford – if Watkins was offside at all, it was by a matter of millimeters. And like Bamford, it appeared that it was his arm that’d strayed off.
But to make matters worse, the only reason Watkins’ arm had reached forward was to free himself from a blatant bear-hug from Ogbonna. So surely, if VAR was unable to award the goal, then the system should’ve advised Bankes to give a penalty for the blatant foul?
Apparently, this was not the case – and Villa were left rueing the unfair loss of a point. The rest of the football world was left to discuss the clear drawbacks of the VAR system once again.
