Refereeing chief Howard Webb has admitted Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was fallacious to not punish Martin Odegaard’s handball in opposition to Liverpool.
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited’s (PGMOL) Chief Refereeing Officer was requested about numerous key decision-making processes by referees within the newest instalment of “Match Officials: Mic’d Up”. He sought to offer an perception into a number of key incidents in current weeks.
One of these being the massively controversial resolution by referee Chris Kavanagh to not award the Reds a penalty throughout their 1-1 Premier League draw in opposition to Arsenal earlier than Christmas. Gunners captain Odegaard was caught on his heels when Mohamed Salah took an ungainly contact in the direction of David Raya’s objective within the nineteenth minute.
The Norwegian appeared to stumble earlier than palming the ball out of hurt’s approach. VAR even reviewed the incident however confirmed the on-field resolution as appropriate.
Webb has now admitted VAR was fallacious to not intervene, saying: “So do I [think it was a penalty]. The referee on the sphere acknowledged that Odegaard had slipped and noticed his arm go in the direction of the bottom.
“We talk about ‘supporting arms’. If somebody falls, breaks their fall with the arm, it’s all very natural and a pretty well-established concept. In this situation. though, there’s an important difference to a normal play that’s falling.
“This is not only Odegaard by chance falling on to the ball. He does slip, his arm does exit, however he really pulls his arm again in in the direction of his physique, which is when the ball makes contact with the arm.”
(Image: Sky Sports)
(Image: @PL)
“The VAR looked at that aspect. He felt it was a case of Odegaard trying to make himself actually smaller by bringing the arm back towards the body. That is the element that’s important here.
“Whether it is instinctive or deliberate, he will get an enormous benefit by bringing the arm again in the direction of the ball. All the suggestions we acquired afterwards was very clear. The sport expects a penalty on this state of affairs. I might agree.”
Referee Kavanagh had mentioned: “No, his hand’s on the floor. His hand’s on the floor,” to which the VAR assistant Lee Betts responded: “Yeah, from the brief look I’ve seen, yeah, agreed.”
VAR then added: “For me, Lee, I’m back with live. So, he’s falling down, he’s moving his arms in towards him, so it’s check complete for me.”
The resolution was instantly met with backlash on social media at a vital level within the sport, with the Gunners forward 1-0. Many followers couldn’t comprehend how, regardless of slipping, Odegaard’s hand jolted in the direction of the ball.