Officially Speaking – with Keith Hackett

PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREE PERFORMANCE WEEK 9

Friday 22 October

Arsenal v Aston Villa RESULT  3-1
Referee: Craig Pawson. Assistants: Richard West, Dan Robathan. Fourth official: Michael Salisbury. VAR: Michael Oliver. Assistant VAR: Peter Kirkup.

A foul on an Arsenal player takes place in the penalty area as the game was heading for the halftime interval. The Referee was in close proximity to play and with a good view. He allowed play to continue and was fortunate that VAR Michael Oliver intervened. Pawson viewed the pitchside monitor and after his review pointed to the penalty mark.
The penalty kick was first saved and then scored on the second go.

The question asked was had Referee Pawson blown to end the match and extended time for the penalty kick?
If that had been the case then the game ends after the save.

We were brought out of our doubts by Pawson having the players line up for the kick off re-start at the centre circle.
No worries then and Pawson spot on, he is the sole timekeeper and right in law with his application of law,

Saturday 23 October

Chelsea v Norwich City RESULT 7-0
Referee: Andy Madley. Assistants: Stuart Burt, Eddie Smart. Fourth official: Andre Marriner. VAR: Michael Oliver. Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis.

This was another very good performance delivered by Referee Andy Madley, who is now an established member of SG1. He is calm and delivers his decisions with accuracy.

Norwich City are well off the pace of the Premier League and frankly went missing in this game allowing Chelsea to win 7-0.

Norwich player Gibson received two yellow cards in this game more I think from his own frustrations. Referee Madley correct application of the law.

Crystal Palace v Newcastle United RESULT 1-1
Referee: Darren England. Assistants: Nick Hopton, Wade Smith. Fourth official: Craig Pawson. VAR: Lee Mason. Assistant VAR: Simon Beck.

Benteke opened the scoring and every time the ball went into his opponent’s penalty area, he was a real threat.

Newcastle were under a temporary manager following the Saudi takeover equalised with a spectacular overhead kick by Wilson.

Palace scored, but after VAR intervention the goal was ruled out for a clear shirt pull in the build-up.

Palace’s number 16 Anderson making a clearance with a boot that was too high and which came into contact with the head of Newcastle’s Ryan Fraser again endangered the safety of his opponent and was fortunate not to have received a red card.

Everton v Watford RESULT 2-5
Referee: Graham Scott. Assistants: Marc Perry, Timothy Wood. Fourth official: Jonathan Moss. VAR: Martin Atkinson. Assistant VAR: Lee Betts.

Tom Davies opened the scoring for the home team in the third minute. VAR checked for offside and a goal that would have been chalked off last season was okay. The broader broadcast lines are ensuring that this law is been operated in a much better way.

King of Watford then equalised In the 13th minute from a free kick, making the score at half time 1-1.

Richarlison who had come on as a substitute put Everton into the lead in the 63rd minute.

It was then that we watched Everton fall apart with some very poor defending. Watford’s Kucka scored in 78th, King in the 80th and 86th to complete his hat trick, then in added time Dennis scored Watford’s fifth. You rarely see a team managed by Benetiz lose by this margin.

A quiet afternoon for Graham Scott who can be happy with his performance.

Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers RESULT 1-1
Referee: Robert Jones. Assistants: Darren Cann, Mark Scholes. Fourth official: Mike Dean. VAR: Peter Bankes. Assistant VAR: Neil Davies.

The main talking point for me in this game was how Saiss of Wolverhampton was allowed to stay on the field of play after committing a serious foul play challenge.
Referee Jones, VAR Bankes and the Assistant patrolling the touchline close to the incident WHERE WERE YOU? Sadly, a challenge of this nature must receive the appropriate sanction.

The penalty kick that allowed Leeds to equalise in added time of the second half was the correct decision.

Southampton v Burnley RESULT 2-2
Referee: Chris Kavanagh. Assistants: Dan Cook, James Mainwaring. Fourth official: Michael Salisbury. VAR: David Coote. Assistant VAR: Matthew Wilkes.

I have come to terms with the fact that Referee Kavanagh is not a sprinter but manages to get into good viewing positions thanks to his game reading.

Cornet, one of Burnley’s recent signings, fave Burnley the lead. He has managed to get off to a good start with his new club.

Southampton then missed an absolute sitter, then hit the post before scoring an equaliser through Livramento.

Broja made it 2-1 to the home side, but they were unable to hold onto a win as Cornet levelled the scorein the 57th minute.

Well done Referee Kavanagh, who gave another good performance.

Brighton and Hove Albion v Manchester City RESULT 1-4
Referee: Kevin Friend. Assistants: Adrian Holmes, Simon Long. Fourth official: Simon Hooper. VAR: Paul Tierney. Assistant VAR: Constantine Hatzidakis.

Early in the game we once again saw the value of Goal Line Technology after the ball had been cleared off the line Referee Friend took a look at his watch, The ball had not crossed the line, no signal to the watch and play continued.
Man, City took the lead with some players looking for a whistle, but there was no foul on the GK
Foden scored the second for City
Jesus scored the third then Mahrez wrapped it up with a comfortable 4-1 win
Referee Friend was able to deliver a low-key consistent performance – well done to him.

Sunday 24 October

Brentford v Leicester City 1-2
Referee: Simon Hooper. Assistants: Simon Bennett, Derek Eaton. Fourth official: Darren England. VAR: Lee Mason. Assistant VAR: Timothy Wood.

Leicester opened the scoring through Tielemans in the 14th minute of the game with a terrific shot on goal. Jorgensen equalised in the 60th minute with a flicked header.

Leicester will have been more than happy that the winning goal was scored by Maddison.

West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur RESULT 1-0
Referee: Paul Tierney. Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Neil Davies. Fourth official: Peter Bankes. VAR: Jarred Gillett. Assistant VAR: Nick Hopton.

Antonio popped up to score the winning goal which moves West Ham up the ladder. Referee Tierney delivered a calm approach and top-class performance.

The one controversial incident in the game was whether Spurs should have been awarded a penalty kick.
It was certainly a close call and VAR did not intervene. Tierney was in a good position to make his decision and judged that a careless challenge did not take place. It would have been a ‘soft’ penalty had it been given.

Manchester United v Liverpool RESULT 0-5
Referee: Anthony Taylor. Assistants: Gary Beswick, Lee Betts. Fourth official: Mike Dean. VAR: Stuart Attwell. Assistant VAR: Marc Perry.

Liverpool got off to a terrific start scoring twice Keita (5th minute) Jota (13th minute).

In another Liverpool attack Salah looked well offside, no flag and VAR did not have to intervene as the attack died out.

Salah is currently rated the World’s number one player and added a third with Maguire and Shaw not coping with the way Liverpool are playing.

Referee Taylor operated in a low-key manner but when required moving with pace maintaining good contact with play.

There were two big refereeing calls in the game.
The first was when United’s Pogba made a challenge that was reckless and endangered the safety of his opponent. It was frankly ‘over the top’ and Taylor with one view produced a yellow card. This was a clear and obvious error. VAR Stuart Attwell correctly intervened and a quick view of the pitch-side monitor saw Taylor overturn the yellow and issue a red.
This was the correct outcome and how VAR should be used.

Later on, Ronaldo received a yellow card for his challenge on an opponent and Referee Taylor was quick on the scene to ensure that the problem did not escalate.
Ronaldo’s actions were out of frustration and he was lucky that he kicked the ball and not the player who was lying on the ground.

This was a one-sided affair and Liverpool ran out comfortable winners.

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