In a recent Premier League match between Manchester City and Wolves, an independent panel has stated that the first penalty awarded to City should not have been given. Wolves defender Rayan Ait-Nouri was penalized for colliding with City defender Josko Gvardiol in the area. The Key Match Incident Panel, consisting of three former players or coaches, one Premier League representative, and one from the referees’ body, reviewed the incident and voted 3-2 that referee Craig Pawson made the wrong decision.
The panel determined that the collision between Ait-Nouri and Gvardiol was a result of normal actions from both players and should not be considered reckless. While two panellists disagreed and believed it was a foul by Ait-Nouri, all five agreed that there were not sufficient grounds for VAR intervention.
This decision proved crucial as Erling Haaland converted the penalty and went on to score four goals in Manchester City’s 5-1 victory. However, despite the incorrect penalty call, the panel unanimously agreed that the VAR made the right call by not intervening.
The Key Match Incident Panel also reviewed other incidents from different matches. One such incident was the disallowed goal for Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo in their 3-0 defeat against Arsenal. The panel was split 3-2 in support of referee David Coote’s decision to disallow the goal due to a push by Dominic Solanke on goalkeeper David Raya in the build-up. Those who supported the decision argued that Solanke impacted the goalkeeper’s ability to continue with his action. On the other hand, those who disagreed believed that the degree of contact did not affect the goalkeeper’s ability to clear the ball. The panel voted 5-0 that VAR was correct not to intervene as it was not a clear and obvious error.
Another incident reviewed by the panel was the decision to award a penalty to Arsenal for a foul by goalkeeper Mark Travers on Kai Havertz in the same game against Bournemouth. The panel was split 3-2 in support of the decision, with those in favor stating that Travers fouled the attacker by coming out feet first without winning the ball. Those who disagreed argued that Havertz initiated contact by leaving his leg in the challenge and had enough time to jump and avoid the challenge. The panel also voted 5-0 that VAR should have intervened.
These incidents highlight the subjective nature of refereeing decisions in football. It is clear that even with the assistance of VAR, there will always be disagreements and differing interpretations. The Key Match Incident Panel’s role in reviewing these decisions brings transparency to the process and provides valuable insights into the reasoning behind them.
While it is important to acknowledge the panel’s expertise and independent judgment, it is worth noting that refereeing decisions will always be prone to human error. Football is a fast-paced game, and referees have to make split-second decisions based on their interpretation of the events unfolding on the pitch. This is where VAR plays a crucial role in correcting clear and obvious errors.
Overall, these incidents serve as a reminder that football is a game of opinions, both on and off the pitch. Refereeing decisions will always be scrutinized, and it is essential to have mechanisms in place, such as the Key Match Incident Panel, to ensure fairness and accountability.