The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have apologised for a whopping 14 blunders over the past year-and-a-half alone. Let’s run through all of them, shall we?
Howard Webb and the PGMOL have issued a truck-load of apologies in the past year
It hasn’t been a great week for VAR. It hasn’t been a great year either. In fact, it hasn’t been great, full stop.
The monumental bungling of Luis Diaz’s goal at the weekend has caused a bit of a meltdown in English football. Faith in the technology seems to be at an all-time low leaving supporters somehow nostalgically yearning for the days of ghost goals and beach balls.
Since taking over as head of the PGMOL last year, former Premier League official Howard Webb has been on a mission to improve refereeing standards and has focused much of his attention on increasing transparency. As such, the PGMOL has apologised for a number of major blunders over the past year or so, and we’re running through all of them.
Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool – September 2023
Luis Diaz
Luis Diaz was wrongly ruled offside by the linesman, and a VAR check failed to correct it
In arguably their biggest gaffe to date, the PGMOL issued an apology after “significant human error” wrongly ruled out would should have been Liverpool’s opening goal against Tottenham. VAR officials mistakenly thought Diaz’s goal had been given, when it had actually been flagged for offside. So after reviewing the incident they informed the referee that the call was ‘correct’.
Manchester United 1-0 Wolves – August 2023
Andre Onana clattering into Wolves’ Sasa Kalajdzic
Andre Onana escaped punishment after clattering into Wolves’ Sasa Kalajdzic
Manchester United keeper Andre Onana somehow managed to avoid giving away a penalty after clattering into Wolves’ Sasa Kalajdzic in the box. VAR reviewed the incident, but failed to instruct the referee to check his pitch-side monitor after deciding that he hadn’t made a ‘clear and obvious error’. The PGMOL later apologised to Wolves boss Gary O’Neill personally.
Tottenham 2-1 Brighton – April 2023
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg standing on Kaoru Mitoma’s foot in the box
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg stood on Kaoru Mitoma’s foot in the box, but a penalty wasn’t given
Brighton were denied a clear penalty after Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg stood on Kaoru Mitoma’s foot in the box, but the referee refused to award one and VAR failed to intervene. The PGMOL later apologised after admitting the decision was incorrect. Worse still, Brighton had two goals ruled out for very soft handballs during the game. Talk about rotten luck.
Arsenal 1-1 Brentford – February 2023
VAR showing Ivan Toney’s goal vs Arsenal
VAR failed to rule out Ivan Toney’s goal even though a Brentford player was standing in an offside position
Ivan Toney’s equaliser was bizarrely allowed to stand despite a VAR review of the goal. Officials both on and off the pitch failed to clock that Brentford star Christian Norgaard was clearly standing in an offside position in the build-up.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton – February 2023
VAR review
VAR drew the offside line in the wrong place during Crystal Palace’s draw with Brighton
VAR officials drew an offside line in the wrong place when reviewing Pervis Estupinian’s goal for Brighton and wrongly ruled the strike out. The gaffe happened on the same day Toney’s goal against Arsenal was wrongly allowed to stand, and the PGMOL later apologised for making “significant errors” in both games.
Brighton 2-1 Liverpool – January 2023
Fabinho hacking down Evan Ferguson
Fabinho escaped a red card after hacking down Evan Ferguson
Liverpool midfielder Fabinho was lucky to escape with just a yellow card after a studs-up challenge on Seagulls striker Evan Ferguson. VAR reviwed the challenge but somehow didn’t advise a red card. The PGMOL admitted to Brighton after the game that they got the decision wrong.
Aston Villa 3-1 Manchester United – November 2022
Lucas Digne hitting a free-kick vs Man Utd
Just look how far away that wall is!
Lucas Digne netted a brilliant free-kick during Aston Villa’s emphatic win over Manchester United, but a post-match review clocked that the referee had positioned United’s wall several yards further away from the ball than required. Digne was subsequently given extra room to get his effort up and over the wall. Worse still, several United players complained to the referee about it before the kick was taken, but they were bafflingly ignored. I mean, there’s absolute daylight between them and Digne. Mamma mia.
Nottingham Forest 2-2 Brentford – November 2022
Dean Henderson was penalised despite only brushing Yoane Wissa’s leg
Dean Henderson was penalised despite only brushing Yoane Wissa’s leg
Brentford were awarded an extremely soft penalty after Dean Henderson was adjudged to have brought down Yoane Wissa in the box. Replays showed there was minimal contact between the two players, but a VAR review failed to overturn the referee’s decision. Webb apologised to Forest after the game.
Fulham 3-0 Aston Villa – October 2022
Douglas Luiz was sent off for a clash with Aleksandar Mitrovic, even though it was Mitrovic who caused the bust-up
Douglas Luiz was sent off for a clash with Aleksandar Mitrovic, even though it was Mitrovic who caused the bust-up
Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz was sent off after clashing with Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic, despite the fact Mitrovic was the one who initiated the skirmish. The score was 1-0 at the time, and the red card all but ended Villa’s hopes of a comeback. Steven Gerrard was sacked a day later. The Villains later appealed Luiz’s ban and it was successfully rescinded.
Manchester United 3-1 Arsenal – September 2022
Arsenal had a goal ruled out after VAR reckoned Martin Odegaard fouled Christian Eriksen in the build-up
Arsenal had a goal ruled out after VAR reckoned Martin Odegaard fouled Christian Eriksen in the build-up
Gabriel Martinelli had a perfectly good goal chalked off by VAR after Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard was incorrectly judged to have fouled Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen in the build-up. The PGMOL later ruled that VAR had unnecessarily intervened as the incident was a nothing burger.
Newcastle 0-0 Crystal Palace – September 2022
Newcastle had a goal ruled out after the officials blew for a foul on Palace keeper Guaita – even though Palace star Mitchel was the culprit
Newcastle had a goal ruled out after the officials blew for a foul on Palace keeper Guaita – even though Palace star Mitchel was the culprit
An own goal by Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchel was wrongly disallowed after Newcastle’s Joe Willock was deemed to have impeded Palace keeper Vicente Guaita during a VAR review. What the officials (somehow) hadn’t clocked was that Willock had in fact been shoved into Guaita by Mitchel.
Chelsea 2-1 West Ham – September 2022
Chelsea were let off the hook when VAR ruled out West Ham’s late equaliser for a foul on Edouard Mendy
Chelsea were let off the hook when VAR ruled out West Ham’s late equaliser for a foul on Edouard Mendy
West Ham were denied a late equaliser against Chelsea when Jarrod Bowen was harshly judged to have fouled Blues keeper Edouard Mendy. Contact between the two players was minimal and officials in the VAR room were likely duped by Mendy’s tactical playacting.
Crystal Palace 3-1 Aston Villa – August 2022
Crystal Palace were awarded a penalty for this handball by Lucas Digne, despite the fact he was inches away from Marc Guehi as he headed it
Crystal Palace were awarded a penalty for this handball by Lucas Digne, despite the fact he was inches away from Marc Guehi as he headed it
Crystal Palace were controversially awarded a penalty after Marc Guehi’s header struck Lucas Digne on the arm in the box, despite the fact Digne had no chance of getting out of the way as the two players were so close to each other. VAR reviewed the incident but failed to overturn the referee’s decision. The score was 1-1 at the time, and although Wilfried Zaha missed the resulting penalty, he slotted home the rebound and Palace went on to win the game comfortably.
Everton 0-1 Manchester City – February 2022
Rodri somehow got away with a blatant handball in the box against Everton
Rodri somehow got away with a blatant handball in the box against Everton
Both the referee and the officials in the VAR managed to bungle a clear penalty decision when Manchester City midfielder Rodri controlled the ball in the box with his arm. They issued an immediate apology to Everton manager Frank Lampard after the game.
By Dailymail