SHOCKING NEWS – Arsenal have FINALLY gotten their revenge, justice is served as Newcastle hit by karma after CHEATING Mikel Arteta with controversial goal by Anthony Gordon as Magpies risks Relegation from the Champions League [Gooners so happy] with this
VAR has been dominating the headlines in the football world in the last two months. Every Premier League weekend is overshadowed by a handful of controversial decisions and the UEFA Champions League is the latest competition to see more drama.
This season alone, England’s top division has seen a number of poor refereeing decisions made, despite the use of VAR. Earlier in the campaign, Liverpool had Curtis Jones unfairly dismissed against Tottenham before Luis Diaz’s goal was disallowed for offside. Replays showed the Columbian was in fact onside.
The PGMOL later released a statement confirming there was a miscommunication between VAR official Darren England, and on-field referee, Simon Hooper. A few weeks later came another controversial moment in a game between Newcastle United and Arsenal.
Anthony Gordon’s only goal of the game was labelled as an ‘absolute disgrace’ by Mikel Arteta after Newcastle won 1-0. The ball had seemed to go out of play before replays showed Gabriel was fouled by Joelinton before Gordon scored.
“We have to talk about the result because you have to talk about how the hell this goal stand ups and it’s incredible,” said the Arsenal boss. “I feel embarrassed but I have to be the one now coming here to try to defend the club and please ask for help, because it’s an absolute disgrace that this goal is allowed; it’s an absolute disgrace.”
“Because it’s not a goal for many reasons; it’s not a goal, for more than one reason at least,” Arteta replied. “It’s not a goal and it’s too much at stake here. We put in so much effort, it’s so difficult to compete at this level, and it’s an absolute disgrace.
“Again, I feel embarrassed having more than 20 years in this country, and this is nowhere near the level to describe this as the best league in the world. I am sorry.”
In the last round of Premier League fixtures, the video technology was at the forefront once again. Manchester City had a goal ruled out against Liverpool for a foul on goalkeeper Alisson, Nottingham Forest vs Brighton saw some questionable decisions and the Gunners had Leandro Trossard’s goal against Brentford ruled out for offside.
Fans are reaching breaking point in the Premier League and frustrations extended to European football after VAR’s howler in Paris Saint-Germain’s game against Newcastle on Tuesday night.
With the Magpies moments away from securing an historic – and crucial – 1-0 win in the Champions League, VAR struck again. Former Chelsea defender Tino Livramento was penalised for handling the ball inside the box despite replays clearly showing the ball striking his chest before.
Kylian Mbappe scored and levelled, meaning the Magpies’ fate in the competitio’s group stage is out of their hands. The aftermath and reaction has been what you’d expect.
Now, UEFA have acted decisively. Tomasz Kwiatkowski, who was on VAR for the clash, has been stood down to his duties in Wednesday night’s fixtures, a hint that the people at the top of European football’s governing body believe the decision was wrong.
Kwiatkowski was due to officiate Real Sociedad vs RB Salzburg but will instead sit the out. Referee Szymon Marciniak is yet see any repercussions after he awarded the penalty following an instruction to look at the pitchside VAR monitor.
The law states that a handball should be given if a player ‘deliberately touches the ball with their hand or arm… for example, moving their hand or arm towards the ball’ and mentions making the body ‘unnaturally bigger’.
This was clearly not the case and another big VAR mistake shows that change is needed and that technology needs to improve. Indeed, the fallout from Arsenal’s game at Newcastle was clearly justified as VAR continues to invite pressure on those who pushed for its introduction.
