Premier League panel ‘admits VAR got SIX decisions wrong overturned this season’

Premier League panel ‘admits VAR got it wrong over SIX decisions overturned this season’ – including Gabriel Martinelli’s Man United goal disallowed and calls for Chelsea and Crystal Palace to be saved

A review of Premier League VAR calls ahead of the World Cup found six were incorrect
They include Gabriel Martinelli’s disallowed goal in Arsenal’s loss to Man United
West Ham’s 90th-minute equalizer at Chelsea should also have held but didn’t
Other incorrect calls concerned Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace

Published: 3:30 a.m. EST, December 22, 2022 | Update: 4:23 a.m. EST, December 22, 2022

Premier League referees reportedly made six incorrect VAR interventions in the first part of the season – including a disallowed goal for Arsenal to Manchester United.

A review by an independent panel, made up of three former players and representatives from the Premier League and the PGMOL refereeing corps, found six errors out of 48 overturned decisions in matches before the World Cup break.

According to ESPNThis includes Gabriel MartinelliArsenal’s strike would have taken Arsenal 1-0 up in the 12th minute at Old Trafford.

Gabriel Martinelli’s goal for Arsenal at Man United was disallowed following a VAR check

Martin Odegaard was found guilty of fouling Christian Eriksen in the build-up to the goal

Martinelli protests to fourth official after his opener at Old Trafford was ruled out

The video assistant referee [VAR] Lee Mason advised onfield referee Paul Tierney that the goal should be ruled out for a foul by Martin Odegaard on Christian Eriksen in the build-up. United won the match 3-1.

The assessment concluded the goal should have stood, with other examples including Maxwel Cornet’s 90th-minute equalizer for West Ham in a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea in early September.

This was denied by VAR as Jarrod Bowen was ruled for fouling Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy just before Cornet scored.

West Ham were furious when their last minute equalizer at Chelsea was disallowed by VAR

VAR ruled Jarrod Bowen fouled Edouard Mendy before Maxwel Cornet scored

Tyrick Mitchell and Joe Willock were involved in another bad call at St James’ Park

Other examples of incorrect VAR calls include an own goal from Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell at Newcastle which was disallowed for a build-up foul by Joe Willock on goalkeeper Vicente Guaita. This match ended without a goal.

A penalty was also awarded to Brentford at Nottingham Forest, when VAR ruled goalkeeper Dean Henderson had brought down Yoane Wissa for the kick. Bryan Mbeumo scored the penalty and the match ended 2-2.

A red card from Douglas Luiz for violent conduct against Aleksandar Mitrovic in the 62nd minute of Aston Villa’s 3-0 defeat at Fulham was also ruled incorrect. Villa were just 1-0 back then.

Douglas Luiz was sent off during Aston Villa’s game at Fulham for violent conduct against Mitrovic

VAR ruled goalkeeper Dean Henderson knocked Yoane Wissa down for a penalty

The six “mistakes” of VAR

Crystal Palace 3-1 Aston Villa, August 20

The penalty conceded by Lucas Digne of Villa for handball in the 55th minute is converted by Wilfried Zaha on the rebound to give Palace the advantage 2-1.

Chelsea 2-1 West Ham, September 3

Maxwel Cornet’s equalizer for 2-2 in the 90th minute is disallowed as Jarrod Bowen is on trial for fouling Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Newcastle United 0-0 Crystal Palace, September 3

Tyrick Mitchell’s 51st-minute own goal was ruled out for a foul in the build-up by Newcastle’s Joe Willock on Palace keeper Vicente Guaita.

Manchester United 3-1 Arsenal, September 4

Gabriel Martinelli’s 12th-minute goal for Arsenal was disallowed due to Martin Odegaard’s build-up foul on Christian Eriksen.

Fulham 3-0 Aston Villa, October 20

Villa’s Douglas Luiz was shown a red card for violent conduct after VAR ruled he headbutted Aleksandar Mitrovic in the 62nd minute. Villa trailed 1-0 at the time and the defeat cost Steven Gerrard his job.

Nottingham Forest 2-2 Brentford, November 5

Penalty awarded for a foul by goalkeeper Dean Henderson on Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, who is scored by Bryan Mbeumo to make it 1-1.

Also, a handball decision against Villa’s Lucas Digne to concede a Crystal Palace penalty that Wilfried Zaha scored on the rebound was a mistake.

The review also flagged several other missed interventions, ESPN reported, including two West Ham goals that should have been disallowed for handball in their 3-1 home win over Fulham.

It comes as former Premier League official Howard Webb takes over as PGMOL’s director of refereeing with a mandate to improve standards on the ground and in the VAR center at Stockley Park.