VAR calls to disallow goals for West Ham & Newcastle were wrong

Due to controversial officiating calls in gameweek six, the Premier League has requested that the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in England reevaluate decisions made during in-game VAR reviews that occurred on Saturday.

The two matches in question involve West Ham United, and Newcastle United. The two clubs scored goals that were disallowed after a VAR intervention. The match referees allowed the initial goal, only to reverse the call after a video review.

According to a report on Sunday, it’s understood that PGMOL has effectively accepted the VAR interventions to disallow West Ham and Newcastle goals were wrong.

Unacceptable decision made against West Ham United

West Ham manager David Moyes controlled his temper during the controversial reversal of Maxwel Cornet’s goal. The Hammers manager had a post-match engagement with the referee. The “scandalous” call outraged fans, including pundits, who believed that goalkeeper Edouard Mendy risked his body amid a sliding save, obstructing the pathway of West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, who had no choice but to collide with Mendy. Ultimately, Bowen inadvertently clipped the goalkeeper’s torso.

The VAR dispute here is a subject of debate. Had Mendy’s body not been clipped by Bowen, the goalkeeper could have gotten up, preventing Cornet’s shot on an open goal. However, the replay in my opinion shows Mendy making an error, risking his body amid a dangerous play that caused the inevitable contact from Bowen to be made.

Newcastle missed out due to a VAR decision too

In the Newcastle match against Crystal Palace, Crystal Palace fullback Tyrick Mitchell’s own goal was ruled-out for what VAR determined to be a foul committed by Newcastle halfback Joe Willock upon Vicente Guaita, Crystal Palace’s goalkeeper. The scoreless draw sparked controversy, causing the Premier League to question VAR strategies ahead of matchday seven.

Finally, during the Manchester United vs. Arsenal matchup on September 4, VAR prevented another goal. A push and shove at midfield on Christian Eriksen led to a goal from Martinelli that was overruled due to the foul that caused the Danish winger to fall on the field.

As the English Premier League heads toward matchday seven, there remains a concern with these specific calls, more so than the overall VAR system of officiation.

Photo credit: ActionPlus