Video Assistant Referee causes controversy every week in the Premier League, but how are decisions made, and are they correct?
After each round of matches we take a look at the major incidents, to examine and explain the process both in terms of VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game.
What happened: The game was only three minutes old when Mohamed Salah looked to burst past Lewis Hall down the right wing. The Newcastle United defender tumbled to the ground and, in the process, as Salah entered the area he was brought down. Referee Stuart Attwell gave a free kick to Newcastle, and the move was checked by the VAR, Matt Donohue.
VAR decision: No penalty.
VAR review: The referee gave a defensive free kick before the possible penalty, so was this reviewable by the VAR? Or did play stop at the point Salah was ruled to have fouled Hall?
The VAR is effectively in play until the referee blows the whistle to stop play. So if it was blown before the potential penalty, the VAR has no role as play was already dead. But the whistle didn’t go until Salah went to ground, the VAR can assess the passage of play as a whole.
The weight of the original decision to give a foul against Salah was the determining factor. As Attwell had given a free kick, deeming that Salah pushed Hall, that had to be clearly and obviously wrong itself before any assessment for a spot kick. (ESPN)