VAR NO GOAL
]In the latest Premier League fixture, a VAR review became the center of attention as West Ham’s goal was disallowed following claims that Arsenal’s goalkeeper, David Raya, had been fouled by Pablo in the build-up. Referee Chris Kavanagh, after consulting the pitchside monitor, confirmed the decision to disallow the goal, a move that has prompted varied reactions from both teams and pundits.
Nuno Espirito Santo said: “They have to solve it. Sometimes it’s a goal, sometimes not a goal. Everybody feels confused. Today we are upset, we are sad. It’s the lack of consistency with the decisions. These previous recent seasons have been having a lot of blocking, grappling, holding. Almost like a wrestling situation that all of us don’t even understand what is a foul, what is not a foul. I think even the referees confuse themselves. I have the same view of everybody. Sometimes I think it is, sometimes I think not because then you look at every corner in the Premier League. What’s happening? It’s something like this. Not only today but in all the pitches. Everybody, us included, are trying. But what is the barrier, what is the frontier of what is a foul and what is not a foul? It is tough.”
Mikel Arteta said: “It’s very brave but very consistent with what they’ve been talking about all season. When I have to be critical I have been. Today I have to praise them at least for giving the option for the referee to decide away from the lights and the chaos, to give clarity for him to make the right call. When you look at the action in that way, it is an obvious error. The goal has to be disallowed.”
Dermot Gallagher said: “Between the officials, they came to the right decision. When you watch it, there is so much going on and to look at and what happens is you have to go in chronological order. If you look at it, Pablo puts his arm across Raya, he holds him, there is no doubt about that. Behind that, Declan Rice is engaged with [Konstantinos] Mavropanos, is that a penalty? Well, if you look at it in that order, definitely Pablo goes first, his arm is across Raya and at that point, Rice is reaching, he does get hold of him, there is no doubt about that. And if there is not a foul on the goalkeeper, that is definitely a penalty as Mavropanos is running towards the ball. But the first foul is definitely by Pablo.”
Peter Schmeichel said: “What really makes me angry is that Arsenal would never be top of the league if that’s a free kick. That’s how they have scored so many goals – by blocking people, holding people – doing all kinds of things. And then we get to this point, it takes VAR five minutes and he [Darren England] starts it over again. That in itself puts so much doubt into that decision. It cannot be a free kick. It cannot. It is so wrong. I just don’t understand why all of a sudden that’s a free kick because it’s not been for any teams all the way throughout the season. All this is just crazy. That decision today… It’s just so wrong on so many levels.”
The decision to disallow the goal has significant implications for the Premier League standings. Arsenal’s victory keeps them five points ahead of Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side, who face Crystal Palace next, have the opportunity to narrow the gap to two points with a win. This incident underscores the ongoing debate about VAR’s role in ensuring consistency and fairness in Premier League matches.
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