VAR NO GOAL
Arsenal supporters have once again raised concerns about the consistency of Premier League referees following two controversial on-pitch incidents. During Tottenham’s 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace, Micky van de Ven avoided what could have been a red card. This came just over a week after William Saliba was dismissed for a similar last-man foul in Arsenal’s game against Bournemouth. Meanwhile, Tosin Adarabioyo’s involvement in a tussle with Diogo Jota during Chelsea’s match against Liverpool led to only a yellow card.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviewed both Adarabioyo and Van de Ven’s incidents but concluded they differed from Saliba’s in terms of their impact and positioning on the field. This inconsistency, especially given Arsenal’s loss of Saliba during their critical title match against Liverpool, has left the club and its fans feeling aggrieved. Arsenal perceived the differential treatment of their rivals in similar situations as unfair.
Former Premier League referee, Dermot Gallagher, provided insight into the refereeing decisions. Gallagher explained the factors that differentiated Saliba and Adarabioyo’s situations on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch.
Dermot Gallagher said, “I think it’s a number of things, firstly, the player is not in possession of the ball, you have to say, will he get in possession of the ball? Possibly, but [Levi] Colwill is alongside him, so it’s a foot-race between the two. Direction of the ball, the ball is going towards the corner flag, it’s moving away, so he’s going away from goal, so if he’d got the ball, he’d still have that. Distance from goal, again, I felt that Colwill will have that chance to make up that ground if he gets the ball first, so there’s too many variables.”
On the Sunday before Saliba’s absence in the Arsenal vs Liverpool match, Van de Ven found himself at the center of a debated call. The crowd at Selhurst Park demanded a red card for Van de Ven after he appeared to inhibit Sarr from an opportunity to go one-on-one with Guglielmo Vicario. Referee Darren Bond initially issued a yellow card, and VAR, with Oliver overseeing and Stuart Burt assisting, decided against further action. The decision factored in the ball’s direction and other players’ proximity, allowing Van de Ven to remain on the field. Arsenal fans pointed to this as further evidence of inconsistent officiating.
