It takes this season’s tally to 23 confirmed errors made by VAR
The Premier League’s latest review into VAR errors has revealed a mistake was made in a recent match that could well have changed the shape of this season’s title race between Arsenal and Manchester City.
At regular intervals throughout the season, the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel meet to discuss controversial refereeing decisions made during matches.
The KMI panel is made up of former players, coaches, and representatives from the Premier League and Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO), who meet weekly to discuss decisions made the previous week, and conclude as and where errors are made.
It’s important to note that while the KMI panel has admitted to officials making other “on-field” mistakes, not all of these were “clear and obvious” to justify the intervention of VAR.
Reports on findings of the KMI panel are reported on first by BBC Sport football issues correspondent Dale Johnson.
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Following their most recent meeting, the KMI panel ruled that Everton should have been awarded a penalty during the recent 3-3 draw with Manchester City.
While the match was 3-2 to the Toffees, during a corner, Bernardo Silva appeared to hold back Merlin Rohl.
The incident was not seen by on-field official Michael Oliver and VAR did not call for a review.
According to BBC Sport: “The VAR Paul Howard decided the holding had taken place before the corner was taken, so he could not intervene to award a penalty.”
The KMI panel agreed unanimously that this was a mistake, releasing the following statement: “There is a clear, sustained holding offence which continues as the corner is taken and the ball comes into play.”
Although immediately of interest to Everton, the refereeing and VAR error had major ramifications for the Premier League title race.
Man City later went on to equalise, and gain a point from the match.
However, had Everton been awarded and scored the penalty, they would have gone 4-2 up and likely won.
With that point, Pep Guardiola’s side are just two points away from Arsenal, meaning that if the Gunners drop points over their final two games, Man City have a good chance of overtaking them.
This would not be the case, had Everton won that game.
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