Dale Johnson
@DaleJohnsonESPN
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Editor at ESPN FC. Lots of VAR, plus regulations, coefficients and permutations.
N 51°25' 0'' / W 0°6' 0''
Joined January 2011
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JUST IN
Howard Webb says Premier League referees are set to announce to stadium crowds why they have changed their decisions after a VAR intervention, from next season.
The IFAB remains steadfastly opposed to broadcasting the real-time conversations.
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic has taken out a full page advert in the
@latimes
announcing his arrival at LA Galaxy. Classic Zlatan.
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That is NOT a penalty and is literally in the IFAB directory of what ISN'T a penalty.
It can only be a penalty if it's a deliberate act.
This image is from the IFAB.
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CONFIRMED!
The 2020-21 Premier League fixture list will be published in full at 9am tomorrow - Thursday, August 20.
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Here's the Oleksandr Zinchenko onside image for Arsenal's winner against Manchester United.
Sky didn't switch to the VAR feed until after Zinchenko's position had been checked, which is why viewers only saw the check on Eddie Nketiah.
#ARSMUN
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Ok, here's the nuts and bolts.
This is what happened with the Luis Diaz "goal" which Liverpool had disallowed vs. Tottenham.
There will be a deeper dive in the Monday VAR thread, but in simple terms the VAR took the wrong onfield decision - it led to the goal being disallowed.
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So the VAR, Darren England, checked offside thinking the onfield decision was "goal."
It was a quick offside check because it was clear Diaz was onside, so he told the referee "check complete".
In telling the ref "check complete" he is saying the onfield decision was correct.
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DEC. 18
World Cup final
w/c DEC. 19
Manchester City vs. Liverpool,
Carabao Cup round 4
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There's a lot of misinformation out there about the 3pm Saturday TV blackout, so a detailed thread on:
- Why it exists
- Why other top leagues don't use the blackout
- What about illegal streaming / ifollow?
- Is it past its sell-by in modern football?
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Manchester United failing to win their UEL group presents a bit of an issue for the Premier League, as there is now no natural space in the calendar to rearrange their games against Crystal Palace and Leeds United.
Every single weekend and midweek is already accounted for.
#MUFC
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CONFIRMED
This season's Scottish champions (probably Celtic) will go direct to the group stage of next season's Champions League.
UEFA has tonight confirmed that Russia will have no affiliated clubs participating in UEFA club competitions in the 2022/23 season.
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One of these nations will be in the
#WorldCup
final two weeks today:
Colombia 🇨🇴
Croatia 🇭🇷
Denmark 🇩🇰
England 🏴
Russia 🇷🇺
Sweden 🇸🇪
Switzerland 🇨🇭
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Liverpool have now had more negative VAR decisions (11) this season than any team in the whole of last season.
#LIVEVE
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This is the key angle which confirmed the offside decision on West Brom's second "goal".
Matt Phillips is stood in front of Alisson in an offside position blocking his line of vision to the ball. Nothing else is relevant.
If this were allowed, teams would do it all the time.
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Sick of keepers holding the ball for 30-40 seconds to waste time or slow down play?
The [unenforced] law says a keeper can only hold the ball for 6 seconds. Any longer and it's an indirect FK to the opposition.
We now have details of The IFAB trial to change it.
Thread. 👇
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Last 6 World Cup playoff games....
Honduras 0-0 Australia
New Zealand 0-0 Peru
Denmark 0-0 Ireland
Switzerland 0-0 N Ireland
Greece 0-0 Croatia
Italy 0-0 Sweden
Now 569 mins (9.5 hours) since last goal when Sweden scored on Friday.
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So the "human error" by the VAR team is getting the onfield decision wrong. Not by failing to draw lines etc.
The lines were drawn and Diaz was clearly onside.
The huge, quite unbelievable error was misunderstanding the onfield decision.
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Interesting application of offside in the
#UEFANationsFinal
for Kylian Mbappe's winner.
It's a decision which is correct in law to allow the goal, but one which many will feel should be disallowed in the spirit of the game.
Mbappe is clearly offside when the pass is played.
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JUST IN!
The Premier League's Independent Key Match Incidents Panel has ruled the referee and the VAR were correct to award Newcastle United's winning goal against Arsenal.
But Havertz and Guimarães should have seen red.
Click the image for the story.
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Marcus Rashford was onside for Manchester United's second goal due to the tolerance level which was added to VAR offside last summer.
Would have been offside in 2020-21.
When a player is onside due to tolerance level one green line is shown, drawn to the defender.
#MUNLIV
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Interesting comment there on MOTD2 claiming VAR means Liverpool get away with playing a high line on offside.
Today's Man City goal was only the second opposition goal ruled out for offside by the VAR all season.
The other was at Man United when 5-0 up.
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CONFIRMED: Scotland will have two places in the Champions League in 2021-22.
Scotland now guaranteed to be in the top 15 nations in the final UEFA coefficient.
So the champions and the runners up in the Premiership this 2020-21 season will qualify for the UCL in 2021-22.
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When UEFA announced the new UCL format it said "potential adjustments to the format approved could still be made if necessary".
#SuperLeague
Dirty Dozen are toothless.
Remove the +2 places for clubs with highest coefficient not to qualify IMMEDIATELY, give to actual champions.
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Liverpool are now the only team in the Premier League with a net VAR score of 0.
That means they have had exactly the same number of decisions in favour as they have had against.
#LFC
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How would the Premier League table look without VAR?
We've developed an algorithm which takes into account many factors at the time of the VAR intervention, and recalculated the results.
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VAR OVERTURNS - DECISIONS AGAINST
Liverpool 8
Brighton 4
C Palace 4
Man United 4
Tottenham 4
Fulham 3
WBA 3
Aston Villa 2
Leeds 2
Newcastle 2
Wolves 2
Arsenal 1
Chelsea 1
Leicester 1
Man City 1
Southampton 1
West Ham 1
Burnley 0
Everton 0
Sheff Utd 0
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Premier League rule M.5 clearly states that Edinson Cavani must keep the No. 7 shirt for the whole season.
If Cristiano Ronaldo wants the No. 7 shirt, Cavani must leave. Or United must get special dispensation from the PL board, which has never before been granted.
#mufc
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Middlesbrough score a marginally offside goal at home to Tottenham.
But the game isn't at a Premier League ground, so no VAR.
Forest get a penalty at Chelsea, but it's cancelled on offside cos Premier League grounds have VAR.
The madness of VAR in the FA Cup.
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REVEALED
The Premier League's independent panel has ruled Diogo Jota shouldn't have been sent off in Liverpool's controversial 2-1 defeat at Spurs.
But not for the reason you think.
Plus: Why Brighton may feel aggrieved after their loss at Aston Villa.
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As soon as Spurs take the free-kick for the offside, which they were set up for, the decision cannot be rolled back.
Can only imagine the VAR room when that free-kick was taken....
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The penalty to Everton was the correct decision - remember intent was taken out of the Laws of the Game.
However, as with David Luiz vs. Wolves, Trent Alexander-Arnold should have been sent off as a clear goal-scoring opportunity was denied for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
#LIVEVE
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Harry Kane ahead of the ball.... 😬
Haven't seen any 3D visualisation version but:
"The ball went backwards!" Eric Dier said. The direction a ball is played is irrelevant for offside.
The deflection is also not a deliberate play so doesn't reset Kane's offside position.
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Tunisia v Mali
- VAR review for a penalty, given (pen missed)
- Ref blows for full-time on 85 minutes
- Play does restart
- Player sent off
- VAR tells the ref it's not a red
- Ref rejects the red review (it was never a red card)
- Ref blows for full time on 89.40
Chaos!
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This is what happened with the disallowed goal. The ball came off Felix Torres, who was challenging the keeper.
It fell to Michael Estrada, whose foot you can see in an offside position. He headed the ball back to Torres.
Correct VAR decision!
#QatarWorldCup2022
#QATECU
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This VAR audio is absolutely incredible.
The VAR was far too eager to get the game restarted, and this is what ultimately cause the error.
Both then COMPLETELY froze when the error became apparent. Assistant VAR was AWOL.
The replay operator was the only one trying to react.
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CONFIRMED!
The Premier League has published its schedule in full, so THIS is your finalised packed schedule for the 2020-21 season.
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For the VAR conspiracy theorists.
Most VAR decisions in favour: Man United 10
Most net: Man United 8
Most disallowed for opposition: Man United 7
Most subjective in favour: Crystal Palace, Man United 6
Highest net goals: Man United +7
Highest net subjective score: Man United +5
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Still annoyed that some say England fans thought they'd already won the World Cup with "It's Coming Home."
It was a movement. It was about having belief and dreaming of the impossible - as a country.
No one felt "entitled" to win the World Cup. No one thought it was "easy."
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VAR overturns (net score)
Everton +3
Sheffield United +3
Southampton +2
Arsenal +1
Aston Villa +1
Leicester +1
Man City +1
Newcastle +1
West Ham +1
Burnley 0
Crystal Palace 0
Wolves 0
Brighton -1
Chelsea -1
Leeds -1
Man United -1
West Brom -1
Fulham -2
Tottenham -3
Liverpool -4
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This looks to be the tightest VAR offside yet.
It HAS to change next season.
Leagues MUST be allowed to follow the UCL method and only give offside when technology graphically provides a clear decision.
Pierluigi Collina wants it this way. It has to happen.
#FULWOL
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That's a 4-match ban for Casemiro as it's his second red of the season.
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Can someone please tell Jermaine Jenas that the monitor is used when an offside player doesn't touch the ball.
It's not difficult.
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Mike Dean. Demoted to the Championship. Has just given a penalty. For handball. And the handball was outside the box.
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Virgil van Dijk offside by the new point of handball on the arm, rather than the armpit.
Last season, this would have been onside.
Note the red line doesn't go to the elbow. It carries through and that's the calculation point.
#EVELIV
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I've got this, Richard. I'll be explaining why it was a correct decision tomorrow, using quotes from UEFA refs' chief on how deflections onto the arm should be interpreted for a handball offence.
Liverpool’s first pen yesterday should never have been given. Michael Oliver was wrong in law - and VAR should’ve picked it up. We’ll explain today. Join us
#beINSPORTS
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Struggling to see how Martin Odegaard escaped a handball penalty.
Arm going into the body IS an exemption, but that's a real stretch here.
As I say, far bigger controversies about the VAR not getting involved rather than perceived re-refereeing.
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VAR Review on Man City's goal at Real Madrid.
📌 Camavinga's misplaced pass reset phase of play, confirmed by sources
📌 So the VAR doesn't need to review before it
📌 No tech for ball out on sideline. Graphic is a TV simulation
📌 No chip in UEFA balls
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Here it is - the new Premier League table WITHOUT VAR.
- Liverpool's lead over Man City slashed in HALF from 14 pts to 7
- Only Norwich worse affected by VAR than City
- Arsenal, West Ham get biggest climb
- Southampton suffer most in points, places
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UEFA's interpretation of handball really is laughable.
Absolutely no way that's given in the Premier League.
Off the chest and onto the elbow with the arm in a normal position. Not above the head / unexplainable by body position.
And advised by the VAR, too...
#PSGNEW
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Mauro Icardi's offside in Galatasaray vs. Manchester United gives us a good illustration of how semi-automated technology will be more accurate and reliable - yet may lead to more goals being disallowed.
This was ruled out on the field, but stay with me.
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VAR OVERTURNS - DECISIONS FOR
Man United 5
Brighton 4
C Palace 4
Everton 3
Newcastle 3
Sheff Utd 3
Southampton 3
Aston Villa 2
Leicester 2
Tottenham 2
West Ham 2
Wolves 2
Arsenal 1
Fulham 1
Leeds 1
Liverpool 1
Man City 1
Burnley 0
Chelsea 0
WBA 0
#MNUWBA
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Ok, a Wednesday VAR thread on the suggested change to the offside law.
To explain why I think it could be one of the worst ideas I've ever heard, solves nothing, and to introduce without testing has the potential to ruin football worldwide for a year and make Euro 2020 a joke.
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VAR overturns (net score)
Burnley +4
Chelsea +4
Everton +4
Fulham +3
Aston Villa +2
Man City +2
Sheff United +2
Brighton +1
Crystal Palace +1
Leeds +1
Leicester +1
Southampton 0
Newcastle -1
Tottenham -1
West Ham -1
Man United -2
Wolves -2
Liverpool -5
West Brom -6
Arsenal -7
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Ready for August?
1: FA Cup final
2: National League playoff final
4: Championship playoff final
5: UEL x4
6: UEL x4
7: UCL x2
8: UCL x2
10: UEL x2
11: UEL x2
12: UCL
13: UCL
14: UCL
15: UCL
16: UEL
17: UEL
18: UCL
19: UCL
21: UEL Final
23: UCL Final
29: Community Shield
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If players stop wasting time, and showing dissent towards officials, there won't be the extensive added time.
This is the whole point of the IFAB's directive (it's not the FA's).
So players stop wasting time, ball-in-play time increases, added time reduces back down.
We had a meeting last week with the FA. They recommended from the referees new decisions and rules.
From the managers and players, we have shared our concerns for many years now that there are too many games, the schedule is overcrowded, and it’s at a dangerous level for…
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This season, Liverpool lead almost every VAR category you'd want to avoid.
- Most goals disallowed
- Most penalties conceded
- Most decisions against
- Most net decisions against
- And third for goals given against
#LFC
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VAR overturns (net score)
Everton +3
Southampton +3
Brighton +2
Burnley +2
Newcastle +2
Sheffield Utd +2
Chelsea +1
Crystal Palace +1
Leeds +1
West Ham +1
Man City 0
Man United 0
Arsenal -1
Aston Villa -1
Leicester -1
Fulham -2
Tottenham -2
Wolves -2
West Brom -4
Liverpool -5
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Premier League chief football officer Tony Scholes on VAR:
🗣️ "Too many checks," "taking too long"
🗣️ Fan experience "nowhere near good enough"
🚨 VAR errors down
🚨 Exclusive: Liverpool suffer most, Villa biggest winners
🗣️ Semi-automated offside doubts
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6 incorrect VAR overturns in the Premier League this season. ESPN can reveal what they were.
One was Gabriel Martinelli's disallowed goal for Arsenal at Man United.
PLUS
- Semi-automated offside VAR TBC
- Prem wants to trial temporary concussion subs.
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New season VAR changes thread No. 1:
OFFSIDE REVAMP
- The key differences & how it works
- Why it won't be as quick as Euro 2020
- How it will cut the number of disallowed goals
- Why there will still be "marginal" disallowed goals
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Yannick Carrasco, Nicolás Gaitán and José Fonte all made their Chinese Super League debuts for Dalian Yifang today.
They lost 8-0.
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Are you ready for the UEFA-CONMEBOL Nations League?
All 10 South American nations are planned to join the UEFA Nations League when the competition renews in 2024.
All games would still be played in Europe.
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This is so good.
Said a few times that German referees explain controversial decisions on a regular basis.
Well, from Friday, here's Daniel Siebert explaining on TV to RB Leipzig coach Marco Rose why he didn't send off Bayern's Dayot Upamecano.
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Just to cover off the inevitable comments on the Man United goal, in comparison to the Liverpool offside.
As explained on Sunday, blocking is only an offside offence if it stops a player who can challenge.
Raphael Varane isn't blocking a player who could get involved.
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A selection of teams Spurs could draw in the Europa League 2QR.
#COYS
Kesla FK
Torshavn
Neftchi Baku
Kaysar Kyzylorda
Ordabasy Shymkent
Sutjeska Niksic
FK Riteriai
FH Hafnarfjardar
Santa Coloma
Shakhtior Saligorsk
Kalju Nomme
Backa Topola
Vojvodina Novi Sad
OFI Heraklion
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Ok, let's break down what today's UEFA meeting means for Champions League and Europa League qualification.
Firstly, UEFA has effectively taken "null and void" off the table because access must be "based on sporting merit in the 2019/20 domestic competitions".
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Burnley fan throws a lighter at Rico Lewis.
Burnley fan invades the pitch and runs at Julian Alvarez.
Burnley player sent off via VAR for a lunging tackle from behind on Kyle Walker's calf.
Burnley fans sing "Premier League, you're utter scum."
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So, it's the Monday VAR thread which, as you might expect, starts with a chunk about offside.
This should explain how we've got to where we are now, and the issues behind various solutions.
But let's be clear at the start, offside will not change before next season.
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Looks like a fan has thrown the flare bucket right into the keeper's face in a pitch invasion in the Melbourne derby...
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Newcastle join Man United in crashing out.
The gap grows as Germany and Italy pull away -- and Italy keep a full bank of 7 teams.
Only top 2 get a 5th place in UCL
1. Germany, 13.36
2. Italy, 13.14
3. England, 12.13
4. Spain, 12.06
5. France, 10.42
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CONFIRMED!
Scotland finish the season 11th in the UEFA coefficient ranking.
Means 2021-22 Scottish champions are all but certain to qualify direct to the group stage of the 2022-23 Champions League.
Happens as long as the 2021-22 UCL winners also qualify via their league.
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Ok, for the VAR thread this week I am going to fully explain the interpretation of defensive handball, as imposed this season.
DISCLAIMER: It doesn't mean I don't think some of these decisions are crackers, but this IS how referees AT ALL LEVELS have been told to apply the law.
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Tyrone Mings chesting the ball was judged by the officials and the VAR a deliberate act to play the ball and that reset the offside phase, bringing Rodri onside.
Can't agree, and surely has to be offside in this circumstance.
#MCIAVL
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- The VAR uses the angle which is best for the tech and produces the clearest result
- Jota is offside WITHOUT the tolerance level (lines touch)
- When it's this close, only defensive line is shown for clarity (no overlapping lines)
- Remember, our eyes can't work out perspective
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Last night we got to hear the VAR audio of some decisions from the Premier League season. A little thread, including videos.
First, people were expecting too much if they thought PGMOL would go in with two feet and out the biggest errors. This should be viewed as a first step.
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Lovely bit of VAR in the Argentine Primera Division.
- Huracan go 2-1 up, 88th minute
- Goal disallowed by VAR as keeper was out of his area when he threw the ball
- So free-kick to Barracas on edge of area
- Barracas score the FK to win 2-1 (94th min)
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If you think this was a packed programme, next season's dates are:
Dec 16
Dec 20
Dec 23
Dec 26
Dec 30
Jan 1
A sixth of season in 16 days.
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Reading some very odd anti-VAR takes after it correctly ruled out a goal for offside that could have robbed Leicester City of the FA Cup.....
Pick your battles, lads.
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Official:
Before the sacking of Jos Luhukay, no team had conceded more goals in the Championship than Sheffield Wednesday (40 goals in 22 games).
Since the sacking of Jos Luhukay, no team has conceded fewer goals in the Championship than Sheffield Wednesday (11 in 17).
#swfc
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Clarification on Pickford/Van Dijk.... we all get one wrong now and then.
Pickford could have been sent off (probably should have been).
Had it confirmed that the VAR, David Coote, did NOT check for a red card. Appears he was too concerned with the offside.
#EVELIV
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Yellow cards reset at the start of the penalty shootout.
So that's Emiliano Martinez's second yellow card, but only counts as one.
#LILAVL
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For those screaming "fix" on the Shrewsbury offside goal vs. Liverpool. It was offside in the build-up, not in the penalty area image being shared by many.
#LIVSHR
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NOW CONFIRMED
❌ Barcelona will not be at the new expanded Club World Cup in 2025
Qualified UEFA teams:
🏴 Chelsea
🇪🇸 Real Madrid
🏴 Man City
🇩🇪 Bayern Munich
🇫🇷 PSG
🇮🇹 Inter
🇵🇹 Porto
🇵🇹 Benfica
🇩🇪 Borussia Dortmund
🇮🇹 Juventus
🇪🇸 Atletico Madrid
🏴 Arsenal or 🇦🇹 FC Salzburg
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Is it acceptable for this to be done via the Daily Mail and not via an official channel as in other leagues?
We want this information, but is this the right way?
Many questions about Mike Dean as a VAR if he has a media profile.
Exclusive for
@mailplus
and a Premier League first – Mike Dean, VAR for Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham, discusses his regret at not sending referee Anthony Taylor to his monitor to review Cristian Romero's hair pull on Marc Cucurella before Spurs' equaliser
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Points won vs big six over last six seasons:
Chelsea: 94
Man City: 90
Man United: 89
Liverpool: 86
Spurs: 66
Arsenal: 65
#LFCvsAFC
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Slavia Prague's exit means the Czech Republic has no teams left in Europe.
If Celtic and Rangers can get two wins between them to raise Scotland above the Czech Republic in UEFA coefficient table, it's almost certain Scotland will have two teams in Champions League in 2021-22.
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A thread on Harry Kane's offside goal for Tottenham against Sporting.
#COYS
This thread brings in information from UEFA, but also uses knowledge of the system and the VAR processes.
Will also include the FACTUAL aspects of the law.
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There are now just 11 league teams left who have never played at the new Wembley:
Accrington*
Blackburn
Bury
Charlton
Colchester
Crawley*
Ipswich
Nottingham Forest
Notts County
Oldham
Port Vale
*Have never played at Wembley ever
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So, after a false start, here's the Monday VAR thread, looking at:
- Why the high bar causes all the issues
- Differences in application
- Kane & Robertson
- Xhaka & Gelhardt
- Penalties for Liverpool, Newcastle
- Other decisions
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VAR net score
Brighton +7
Crystal Palace +5
Man United +4
Southampton +3
Bournemouth +2
Burnley +2
Leicester +2
Liverpool +1
Newcastle +1
Man City 0
Tottenham 0
Watford 0
Everton -1
Arsenal -2
Aston Villa -2
Chelsea -2
West Ham -4
Wolves -4
Norwich City -6
Sheffield United -6
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England drop to third in the race for a fifth place in next season's Champions League.
1. Germany, 12.93
2. Italy, 12.86
3. England, 11.88
4. Spain, 11.81
There's a long way to go, but Newcastle staying in Europe would help.
Read 👇
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Bad news for the Premier League!
There is now no natural vacant slot in the schedule to put the postponed Chelsea vs. Liverpool and Manchester City vs. Tottenham Hotspur games.
They are in opposite weeks in the Champions League schedule.
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