Premier League Key Match Incidents panel don confirm three more video assistant referee errors, wey take total for this season reach 23. Na 35% increase from last season, where dem record 17 errors for same stage in 2024-25, but lower pass 30 wey dem log for 2023-24.
Di panel record three errors wey involve penalties, two of which suppose don be awarded for holding offences. Everton, di only team wey never get VAR intervention for dia favour this season, dem wrongly deny a spot-kick against Manchester City.
David Moyes side lead 3-2 for Hill Dickinson Stadium when, for corner kick, Bernardo Silva hold back Toffees midfielder Merlin Rohl. Michael Oliver, di referee, no see am. Di VAR Paul Howard decide say di holding happen before di corner kick, so e no fit intervene to award penalty.
Moyes vex after di game, e yarn say: ‘If dat one no get penalty, then na absolute free-for-all from now.’ All five members of KMI panel agree with Moyes, dem tok say ‘there is a clear, sustained holding offence wey continue as di corner kick and di ball come into play.’
City equalise deep inside stoppage time through Jeremy Doku to snatch 3-3 draw. Na di third time this season Everton suppose don get penalty through video review, di others na for 1-0 home loss to Arsenal and 2-1 defeat at West Ham.
Di panel also vote 5-0 say penalty wey dem award Bournemouth for 29th minute of dia 3-0 home win over Crystal Palace suppose don be overturned. Marcos Senesi go down claim contact from goalkeeper Dean Henderson, and referee Rob Jones point to di spot. Di VAR Peter Bankes decide to uphold di decision.
Di panel tok say: ‘Henderson drops di ball, reach for am and Senesi go down under very minimal contact from di goalkeeper. Di referee’s call of penalty na incorrect and VAR suppose don intervene to recommend review.’
West Ham suppose don get two spot-kicks for dia 3-0 loss at Brentford, though one of di decisions no reach VAR threshold. Keane Lewis-Potter hold Tomas Soucek ‘in a clear non-footballing action wey impact di West Ham player’s movement’ and di panel unanimously feel di VAR Tony Harrington suppose step inside.
Dem also feel referee Craig Pawson suppose point to di spot for 77th minute when Yehor Yarmolyuk slip and bring down Pablo inside di area. Na split 3-2 vote for spot-kick, but 4-1 against VAR review.
For other judgements, di panel vote 4-1 say di VAR correct not to intervene for potential handball by Benjamin Sesko before di Manchester United striker score against Liverpool. Di panel note say majority deem ‘there was no conclusive evidence of a handball.’ Di VAR red card for Sunderland‘s Dan Ballard for pulling hair of Tolu Arokodare dem also support 4-1.
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