VAR made its first mistake last night.
Last night, Willian was cautioned for simulation as Chelsea laboured to a win on penalties in their FA Cup third-round replay against Norwich. Since then a referees’ association has confirmed that video technology should have overturned the yellow card he received and maybe even awarded a penalty.
Professional Game Match Officials Ltd accept that the first major mistake had been made in the live trials of Video Assistant Referees in English club football, which began last week, Telegraph Sport has revealed.
Chelsea finished extra time with nine men, in a game not short of controversy, but perhaps the most significant moment came when Timm Klose brought down Willian inside Norwich’s penalty area. Chelsea’s Brazilian dynamo was booked for diving.
After being viewed 10 times by video official Mike Jones, he ruled Graham Scott’s decision should stand.
It’s now understood that the refereeing body responsible for officiating all Premier League matches think that decision was incorrect and the yellow card should have been overturned.
Alan Shearer promptly branded the process a “shambles.”
https://twitter.com/ChelseaGIFs/status/953751735457210368
It’s believed that Jones did not challenge Scott’s original call because he did not watch a replay of the footage in super slow motion and therefore mistakenly thought no contact had been made.
The video official took 44 seconds to review the incident and VARs could now be instructed to spend more time assessing footage played at different speeds to avoid a repeat of the error.
The first 90 minutes of the match passed by comparitively smoothly, Pedro being correctly booked for diving.
In extra time Alavaro Morata and Pedro were sent into the changing rooms for an early gatorade though, both having accrued two yellows.
Chelsea went through to the fourth round 5-3 on penalties, after a 1-1 draw.
VAR trials
Mike Jones was also the video official when Leicester played Fleetwood on Tuesday. It was the third time VAR was in use in English club football and the first time it was used to overturn a decision.
Kelechi Iheanaho was correctly reconsidered onside for his second goal, demonstrating the technology’s uses.
Safe to say, the Chelsea match was less of a glowing endorsement.
