I want to start by paying my respects to one of the World’s greatest football players, DIEGO MARADONA.
Whilst small in stature (1.65 metres), he was a giant on the field.
His low centre of gravity coupled with ball control and dynamic pace allowed him in the 1986 World Cup Quarter Final to score the’ FIFA GOAL OF THE CENTURY’
I met him and shook his hand when he captained the Rest of the World Team at Wembley Stadium. I had the opportunity to watch him close up refereeing him in this game and he provided us with the skill sets that he possessed.
This game was to celebrate the Football Leagues Centenary.
PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREE PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Friday 27th November
CRYSTAL PALACE V NEWCASTLE UNITED RESULT 0-2
Referee: Graham Scott
Assistants: Peter Kirkup, Simon Long
Fourth official: Michael Salisbury
VAR: Jarred Gillett
Assistant VAR: Eddie Smart
Newcastle United took all the points from this game scoring goals in the 88th minute through Callum Wilson and in the 90th through the under-fire Joelinton.
Referee Graham Scott can be happy with his efficient and low-key performance getting through the game without any controversy.
Former top Australian FIFA Referee Jarred Gillett was the VAR for the game. I hope that at some point he will get a Premier League middle appointment.
Saturday 28th November
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION V LIVERPOOL RESULT 1-1
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn
Fourth official: Simon Hooper
VAR: Kevin Friend
Assistant VAR: Simon Beck
Both teams missed early chances to score. Referee Attwell was in a terrific position, pointed to the penalty mark to correctly award a penalty kick to Brighton.
It always amazes me that a professional player, in this case Neal Maupay, fails to score from the mark having on this occasion fired his shot wide of the post.
Salah later scored a lovely ‘goal’, but we saw VAR intervene and rule it out after close inspection of the lines drawn on the screen. The Egyptian striker would later look very unhappy later in the game when he was replaced by Mane.
The game sadly is shooting itself in the foot and I will continue to say that the offside law needs to be changed. The benefit of doubt must be given to the forward. Goals are what the game is about and too many are get chalked off by a technology system that is less accurate than goal-line technology.
Liverpool scored in the 60th minute through a shot by Jota from outside the penalty area in open play
The game ended on a controversial incident when Referee Attwell was asked to visit the pitchside monitor to view a potential penalty kick decision.
He viewed a challenge in slow motion where a Liverpool player kicked the ball to clear but was in contact with his opponent and awarded a penalty kick to Brighton. On this occasion, they scored the equalising goal.
I worry about the psychological impact on the referee when he takes what is beginning to be seen as a walk of shame. We have only seen one referee stick with his original decision.
Frankly, we once again had undue interference by VAR. This incident was viewed initially by the referee who allowed play to continue was not in my opinion a clear and obvious error.
VAR – Last year I expressed concern that referees were been instructed by VAR operators to change their decision without viewing the pitchside monitor. I stated on many occasions that many decisions that a referee makes are subjective and therefore they must view the monitor.
We continue to have VAR operators not applying the ‘clear and obvious’ criteria and this is leading to unnecessary interference.
Attwell viewed an incident from an excellent position and was satisfied that no offence had taken place. I agreed that the player was clearing the ball and did make contact with his opponent. This happens often in football and we judge no offence and allow play to continue.
Sadly, VAR Kevin Friend comes in. Now, what is in the mindset of the referee he is requested to make the ‘WALK OF SHAME’ to the monitor?
On the way, the referee has already decided ‘I must have got this one wrong‘. It’s a glance at the screen and he now is viewing a slow-motion clip. He then turns and awards a penalty kick. Well, I am not buying into this nonsense of a process. Clearly PGMOL fought against the use of the monitor and it is now window dressing to con us that it is been used correctly.
Only one referee to date has said to the VAR – ‘Get lost I am sticking with what I have seen and judged’.
MY EVIDENCE
November 7th WEST HAM UTD V FULHAM Referee Robert Jones
Said Banrahma catches Carney – no penalty kick awarded
November 8th LEICESTER CITY V WOLVES Referee Anthony Taylor
Max Kilman handball Penalty not awarded
November 8th MANCHESTER CITY V LIVERPOOL Referee Craig Pawson
Joe Gomes penalty kick not awarded
November 21st ASTON VILLA V BRIGHTON Referee Michael Oliver
Trezaguet tripped by March – Penalty kick awarded
November 21st MANCHESTER UNITED V WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Furnandez trip Gallagher penalty awarded
November 28th BRIGHTON V LIVERPOOL
Robertson catches Welbeck – penalty kick awarded
MANCHESTER CITY V BURNLEY RESULT 5-0
Referee: Lee Mason
Assistants: Richard West, Adrian Holmes
Fourth official: Anthony Taylor
VAR: Robert Jones
Assistant VAR: Scott Ledger
Referee Lee Mason will be incredibly happy that the game posed no problems for him.
However, I would ask him to look at Manchester City’s second goal which was taken from a point way ahead of where the ball left the field of play, giving City a clear advantage. The incorrect position should have been penalised and awarded to the opposition.
Mahrez stole the show with an excellent hat trick scoring goals in the 6th, 22nd and 69th minute to win the match ball. Burnley’s replacement goalkeeper Peacock-Farrell had a busy day picking the ball out of the net on five occasions.
A one-sided affair and Burnley clearly need to bring in some new players in the January window, which might happen given talk about a possible takeover of the club.
EVERTON V LEEDS UNITED RESULT 0-1
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Assistants: Dan Cook, Constantine Hatzidakis
Fourth official: Darren England
VAR: Andre Marriner
Assistant VAR: Lee Betts
A good performance by referee Kavanagh in this game which I attribute to his improved movement on the field that is securing him better viewing angles.
This adjustment has improved his general decision-making laying the foundation for good performances.
Leeds moved at a dynamic pace throughout the duration of the game and displayed some great passing skills. Their Achilles heel is the failure to turn the opportunities into goals.
Everton scored, but the goal was correctly ruled out for offside. The pass down the left wing was to a player in an offside position in the build-up to play.
Leeds scored through Bamford and again this goal was ruled out for offside.
They scored their winning goal with twelve minutes to go.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION V SHEFFIELD UNITED RESULT 1-0
Referee: Mike Dean
Assistants: Darren Cann, Mark Scholes
Fourth official: Gavin Ward
VAR: Martin Atkinson
Assistant VAR: Ian Hussin
Mike Dean emphasised why I introduced the pre-match warm up for referees when I was boss of the PGMOL.
In the second minute of the game he was alert to a reckless challenge by West Broms Ivanovic who was rightly given an immediate yellow card.
Sheffield United had many chances to score and sadly for them lost the game 1-0, with the home team scoring the only goal of the game in the 12th minute.
It was also good to see one of the World’s best Assistant Referees in action. Darren Cann the official who worked for several years with Howard Webb and has a World Cup Final medal in his cabinet is now working with Mike Dean on a regular basis. They have both doing very well in the twilight of their careers and have both been great servants to the game.
Sunday 29th November
SOUTHAMPTON V MANCHESTER UNITED RESULT 2-3
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Assistants: Marc Perry, Dan Robathan
Fourth official: Graham Scott
VAR: Martin Atkinson
Assistant VAR: Timothy Wood
After 36 minutes of this game, Southampton were two-nil up. Their first goal came from a corner kick scored by Bednarek in the 23rd minute before Ward-Prowse scored from a free kick.
United equalised through Cavani, whose entry into the game made a real difference. He then scored the winner with a flicked header from a Marcus Rashford cross in added time.
A game well officiated by Referee Moss.
CHELSEA V TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR RESULT 0-0
Referee: Paul Tierney
Assistants: Lee Betts, Ian Hussin
Fourth official: Mike Dean
VAR: Craig Pawson
Assistant VAR: Stephen Child
This match was like a game of chess played out on a football field with both teams setting out with the intention of not losing. The odd chance to both sides were missed, and the game passed without controversy.
Paul Tierney was consistent from first to last and those that received a yellow card can have no complaints. Well done to the team of officials.
ARSENAL V WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS RESULT 1-2
Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistants: Stuart Burt, Simon Bennett
Fourth official: David Coote
VAR: Andre Marriner
Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis
There was an horrendous clash of heads between Arsenal’s David Luiz and Wolves’ Raul Jimenez and both players went to ground.
The reaction of the players signalling for medics to come on was brilliant and I applaud them. Jimenez was dealt with very professionally and he was rushed to hospital.
Some years ago, Peter Cech suffered a life-threatening injury whilst playing for Chelsea at Reading. The incident was reviewed very carefully after the event by experts. Richard Scudamore the CEO of the Premier League made an instant change. The Premier League provide a Doctor, Paramedic and Ambulance at every game. This is in addition to the clubs own Doctor been on hand.
My concern was around David Luiz who was quickly assessed and allowed to return to the game with his head strapped. I was surprised and disappointed that referee Michael Oliver allowed him to continue to play when blood was seeping through the bandage. This of course is unacceptable. I hope that the football authorities will review the whole subject of concussion injuries and the PFA and LMA need to focus their influence to effect a change.
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