MX23RW : Thursday, November 21 17:09:42| >> :600:127276960:127276960:

The weekend's VAR incidents: Patrick Bamford's offside arm and handball debates

The weekend's VAR incidents: Patrick Bamford's offside arm and handball debates
© Reuters
The Leeds striker had a goal ruled out after VAR ruled he was offside.

The Premier League weekend brought another round of questionable calls and more debate around the video assistant referee system.

Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the key incidents.

Patrick Bamford 'goal' v Crystal Palace

The Leeds striker had a goal, which would have been the equaliser in a game the visitors went on to lose 4-1, ruled out after VAR ruled he was offside. Closer analysis by the VAR determined the 27-year-old's left upper arm – the 'shirt-sleeve' interpretation – was in an offside position as he pointed to where he wanted team-mate Mateusz Klich to play the ball. Former Wales midfielder turned pundit Robbie Savage described the decision as "the worst in the history of football". Ex-England striker and Match of the Day host Tweeted: "Absurd. I actually loathe the way it's being implemented."

Max Kilman handball v Leicester

PA graphic
PA graphic

Dennis Praet's cross hit Wolves defender Max Kilman at close-quarters and on-field referee Anthony Taylor initially signalled for a corner kick. However, VAR official Stuart Atwell sent Taylor to view the monitor and the referee subsequently overturned his initial decision and pointed for a penalty from which Jamie Vardy scored the only goal of the match and moved the Foxes top of the Premier League. Footage was later shown at half-time of the head of the VAR team Neil Swarbrick speaking with the match VAR official Stuart Attwell. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said: "I think he might be telling him he's made a mistake. Why else would you go in and explain using that running action if they think they have got it right?"

Joe Gomez handball v Manchester City

Less than a couple of hours after the Kilman handball incident, there was another question mark when Kevin De Bruyne's driven cross struck a running Joe Gomez, who tried to pull his arm out of the way only for the ball to hit his elbow. Referee Craig Pawson viewed the incident on the monitor and awarded the penalty, which De Bruyne missed. "I reckon you and John Terry would have given away 40 penalties a season – at least," former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville said to Carragher on Sky Sports commentary.

John McGinn 'goal' v Arsenal

VAR was also responsible for chalking off a goal for Aston Villa's John McGinn after just 45 seconds. McGinn's shot gave Bernd Leno little chance of saving it but with Ross Barkley stood in the goalkeeper's eyeline and marginally offside, referee Martin Atkinson was invited to view the replay for himself. It took almost five minutes for the goal to be ruled out.

ID:421707: cacheID:421707:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8098:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
West Ham United defender Aaron Cresswell pictured in January 2020
Read Next:
Aaron Cresswell "delighted" with West Ham's start to the season
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!