Two high-profile fixtures at the weekend sparked intense debate about refereeing decisions. The Manchester United v Brighton and Brentford v Liverpool games were marred by incidents that provided valuable lessons in understanding why match officials make certain calls.
One incident at Old Trafford saw Patrick Dorgu given a yellow card for fouling Yankuba Minteh, who was through on goal. The phrase "last man" often comes to mind in such situations, but it's essential to remember that being the last defender doesn't automatically warrant a red card. Instead, the referee must consider factors like distance from goal, possession of the ball by the attacking player, direction of travel, and the number of covering defenders.
In this case, the likelihood of Minteh gaining possession was low, as Senne Lammens, the goalkeeper, would have been able to pick up the rolling ball. As such, the referee's decision to award a yellow card for unsporting behavior stood, as Dorgu had knocked the ball out of bounds.
Another incident at Old Trafford involved Luke Shaw and Georginio Rutter in the buildup to United's third goal. Shaw appeared to cause Rutter to lose control by grabbing his shirt, but it was essential to note that the contact was minimal and fleeting. The referee, Anthony Taylor, correctly allowed play to continue, as sustained holding would have warranted a penalty.
In this instance, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system came into play, reviewing the incident as part of the attacking phase of play (APP). The VAR checked for any potential handball or simulation and ultimately ruled that Shaw's actions did not warrant a foul. Meanwhile, Bryan Mbeumo scored at the end of the move, ensuring that the goal stood.
Moving on to Brentford v Liverpool, there was much discussion about penalty decisions. Cody Gakpo's attempt to deceive the referee into awarding a penalty for simulation after a near-foul by Nathan Collins sparked debate. While some argued that Gakpo's actions were theatrical and warranted a yellow card, others believed that play should have continued.
A crucial aspect of refereeing in such situations is understanding the nuances of simulation and contact. In this instance, while there was slight contact, it was deemed minimal. Awarding a yellow card for simulation would be understandable, but in hindsight, it's unlikely that anyone would argue against Taylor's initial decision not to intervene.
Lastly, the game also saw an incident involving Virgil van Dijk and Dango Ouattara, which brought into focus the process of VAR and penalties. The new rules introduced a narrower window for reviewing APPs, with referees increasingly relying on clear and obvious errors rather than subjective assessments.
In this instance, referee Tim Robinson correctly identified Van Dijk's foul as falling inside the penalty area. By explaining that the incident occurred within the designated penalty zone, Robinson didn't require further review from VAR; it was a straightforward factual decision. This highlights the importance of clear communication in refereeing and the need for officials to be confident in their decisions.
Ultimately, these incidents serve as valuable lessons in understanding why match officials make certain calls. They demonstrate the complexity and nuance involved in refereeing high-pressure fixtures like Manchester United v Brighton and Brentford v Liverpool, where every decision can have significant consequences on the outcome of the game.
One incident at Old Trafford saw Patrick Dorgu given a yellow card for fouling Yankuba Minteh, who was through on goal. The phrase "last man" often comes to mind in such situations, but it's essential to remember that being the last defender doesn't automatically warrant a red card. Instead, the referee must consider factors like distance from goal, possession of the ball by the attacking player, direction of travel, and the number of covering defenders.
In this case, the likelihood of Minteh gaining possession was low, as Senne Lammens, the goalkeeper, would have been able to pick up the rolling ball. As such, the referee's decision to award a yellow card for unsporting behavior stood, as Dorgu had knocked the ball out of bounds.
Another incident at Old Trafford involved Luke Shaw and Georginio Rutter in the buildup to United's third goal. Shaw appeared to cause Rutter to lose control by grabbing his shirt, but it was essential to note that the contact was minimal and fleeting. The referee, Anthony Taylor, correctly allowed play to continue, as sustained holding would have warranted a penalty.
In this instance, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system came into play, reviewing the incident as part of the attacking phase of play (APP). The VAR checked for any potential handball or simulation and ultimately ruled that Shaw's actions did not warrant a foul. Meanwhile, Bryan Mbeumo scored at the end of the move, ensuring that the goal stood.
Moving on to Brentford v Liverpool, there was much discussion about penalty decisions. Cody Gakpo's attempt to deceive the referee into awarding a penalty for simulation after a near-foul by Nathan Collins sparked debate. While some argued that Gakpo's actions were theatrical and warranted a yellow card, others believed that play should have continued.
A crucial aspect of refereeing in such situations is understanding the nuances of simulation and contact. In this instance, while there was slight contact, it was deemed minimal. Awarding a yellow card for simulation would be understandable, but in hindsight, it's unlikely that anyone would argue against Taylor's initial decision not to intervene.
Lastly, the game also saw an incident involving Virgil van Dijk and Dango Ouattara, which brought into focus the process of VAR and penalties. The new rules introduced a narrower window for reviewing APPs, with referees increasingly relying on clear and obvious errors rather than subjective assessments.
In this instance, referee Tim Robinson correctly identified Van Dijk's foul as falling inside the penalty area. By explaining that the incident occurred within the designated penalty zone, Robinson didn't require further review from VAR; it was a straightforward factual decision. This highlights the importance of clear communication in refereeing and the need for officials to be confident in their decisions.
Ultimately, these incidents serve as valuable lessons in understanding why match officials make certain calls. They demonstrate the complexity and nuance involved in refereeing high-pressure fixtures like Manchester United v Brighton and Brentford v Liverpool, where every decision can have significant consequences on the outcome of the game.
i mean you gotta give it to brentford though, beat two of englands top teams at home? 
but refs gotta keep it in perspective, sometimes a yellow for unsporting behavior is the right call even if it feels harsh 
! I mean, come on, those guys are like referees on autopilot sometimes 
. Like, Patrick Dorgu gets a yellow for "unsporting behavior" but no one says squat about the goalkeeper just standing there like a statue 
. And what's with Shaw grabbing Rutter's shirt and it's barely even contact? I guess if you're gonna get a penalty, you gotta really grab someone's shirt 
. But seriously, VAR needs to be more accurate or at least give refs some actual guidance instead of just nodding along 
.
and btw I think VAR is still a work in progress 
we need more clarity on those new rules about penalties and APPs 
! Like, Patrick Dorgu gets a yellow card for unsporting behavior and everyone's all "what about the last man?" 
Cody Gakpo's simulation attempt was like, "haha nope, not buying it" 
️. The new VAR rules are definitely making things more interesting, though - like, who needs subjective assessments when you have clear and obvious errors? 
It's just crazy to see how much pressure referees are under in these high-stakes games... but hey, at least they're getting some practice in for the World Cup 
. The VAR system is super important in these situations tho 
. I liked how Robinson just explained the decision and didn't overthink it 
. Referees need to have confidence in their decisions and communicate clearly 
.
The guy didn't even touch the ball, he just lost his footing. And that Shaw-Rutter incident? Minimal contact, if you ask me... 
But nope, the VAR system comes in and somehow says it's okay to keep playing. I mean, what's the point of having VAR if they're just gonna let ref Taylor make up his mind at the end of the day?
Now that was a straightforward decision.
The refs are just making it up as they go along. Or maybe I'm just missing the forest for the trees... 
Either way, I'll keep watching and waiting for someone to drop a real bombshell. 
. and then you gotta consider the VAR system too - it's like tryin' to solve a puzzle while the pieces are still gettin' shuffled around 
i mean, yeah, some calls are obvious but others require a lot more thought 
especially with these new rules about VAR & penalties... its all about clear comms & confidence in ur own decisions 
.