Introduction to VAR in Football
The use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology continues to spark heated debates across football competitions, ranging from the Premier League to the Champions League and FA Cup. This season, we take a closer look at key incidents to better understand the underlying VAR protocols and how they interact with the Laws of the Game.
Key Incident: Arsenal vs. Newcastle United
In a recent match involving Arsenal and Newcastle United, an important call regarding a potential red card was made in the 74th minute. Referee Sam Barrott issued a yellow card to Newcastle’s goalkeeper Nick Pope for a foul on Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres, who was through on goal after a ball was played over the defense. Pope, attempting to intercept the ball, slipped while exiting his area and grabbed hold of Gyökeres, which led to the question of whether it constituted a denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO).
Upon consulting the VAR, Jarred Gillett, it was confirmed that Barrott’s yellow card was the right call. The VAR review concluded that the presence of a nearby Newcastle defender meant Gyökeres’s opportunity was not as clear as it appeared, thereby mitigating the severity of Pope’s actions. VAR interventions are predicated on the premise that only clear and obvious errors warrant reversal of the on-field referee’s decision. Gillett upheld Barrott’s initial assessment, stating that there were factors which did not meet the criteria for a red card under Law 12, such as the attacker’s likelihood of gaining control of the ball and the positioning of other defenders.
Managerial Reactions and Public Sentiment
Despite these assessments, Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with the non-call in a post-match interview. He claimed that the incident was clearly deserving of a red card, reflecting on his interpretation of the play after reviewing it multiple times. Arteta also pointed to a previous incident from the week before against Manchester City, where he felt a similar oversight occurred when one of his players, Kai Havertz, was clearly fouled without a penalty issued. Such inconsistencies in refereeing decisions have led Arteta to voice his frustration about the scrutiny his team endures in these matches.
While Arteta’s sentiments echo the discontent many fans share regarding VAR decisions, the consensus in this particular incident favors the referee’s judgment. The complexity of the dog’s play direction and the presence of cover from defenders played a significant role in the decision not to issue a red card, demonstrating that while emotions may run high, technicalities and evaluations have specific implications for each game.
