The past weekend of Premier League action once again put VAR under scrutiny, with the most notable incident occurring in Arsenal’s 2-1 away victory against Newcastle United.
With the game level at 0-0, Viktor Gyokeres appeared to be tripped by opposition goalkeeper Nick Pope, prompting on-field referee Jarred Gillett to award a penalty. However, VAR assistant Darren England, stationed at the PGMOL’s headquarters at Stockley Park, suggested that a mistake had been made.
On review, Gillett ultimately decided that Pope had touched the ball first and so, having consulted the pitch-side monitor, opted to rescind his decision to grant a penalty. Although Arsenal went on to win the game, the VAR intervention has caused plenty of debate.
PGMOL head Howard Webb has defended the call, insisting that the initial penalty award was a “clear error” by the referee. But many disagree, with former ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett expressing his concern about how things are being run in the Premier League.
In an attempt to add clarity to the decision-making process, the full VAR transcript of the incident has now been released.
Full VAR Transcript Released For Nick Pope’s Challenge vs Arsenal
With pundits, fans, players, and even officials divided over the incident, it’s interesting to get further insight into VAR’s process. With that in mind, the full audio has been released, allowing everyone to learn what was said between officials Gillett, England, assistant VAR Steven Meredith, and the replay operator.
Gillett: “On-field decision is a penalty. Nick Pope, a trip by Nick Pope.”
England: “OK, checking the on-field decision of penalty. Got a better angle?”
Replay Operator: “Yeah, I’ve got a better angle from behind here.”
England: “Does he get a touch on the ball, the goalkeeper? I think he gets a touch on the ball. Nick Pope gets a touch on the ball here.”
Assistant VAR (Steven Meredith): “Yes, he does, yeah.”
England: “Does he? One more time. He actually gets a touch on the ball, doesn’t he?”
Meredith: “Yeah, there’s a secondary touch.”
England: “Give me another angle, please. Just make sure that Pope touches the ball, please.”
Replay Operator: “I’ve got an SSM (Super-Slow Motion), but it’s from the other side.”
England: “He does touch the ball, doesn’t he? Touches the ball first, then there’s contact afterwards. Therefore, that’s not a penalty kick. He touches the ball there.”
Replay Operator: “This is the best angle.”
Meredith: “Have you got the behind view?”
Replay Operator: “Yeah, this is the best angle I’ve got.”
England: “He does, doesn’t he? He touches. OK, let’s just check the APP (Attacking Possession Phase) as it goes over as well.”
Meredith: “It’s definitely played by a defender. But check it anyway.”
England: “Jarred, I’m going to recommend an on-field review for possible no penalty. Let me know when you’ve got the monitor. I am going to check APP as well. Nick Pope gets a touch on the ball.”
Replay Operator: “I’ll go slowly so you can check the APP.”
England: “Yeah, yeah. It’s his defender, a clear defender, isn’t it? It’s always clear defender, that’s fine. The APP has been checked, the APP is clear as well. I’m going to show you the tight angle first with the ball being touched by Nick Pope. Any contact that happens thereafter, after the contact has been made. Nick Pope gets a touch with his right foot, I’ll give you another angle on the touch.”
Gillett: “Show me a better angle to see that he touches the ball.”
England: “I will do, I’ll show you a better angle.”
Replay Operator: “Do you want the SSM from the other side?”
England: “Yeah, yeah, yeah, super slow. Super slow, coming in now. Gets a touch on the ball there. And then just plants his foot in a normal action.”
Gillett:
“The attacker plays the ball first. I don’t know if the goalkeeper actually plays the ball.”
England: “The attacker plays the ball. Yeah, the attacker plays the ball, and the goalkeeper plays the ball then with his right foot, there.”
Gillett: “Just play it at full speed, please.”
England: “Any contact there, any contact after that is normal contact, because the goalkeeper just plays his foot.”
Gillett: “Can you play it at full speed?”
England: “Playing at normal speed for you.”
Gillett: “So I’m seeing the goalkeeper get a toe to the ball first, prior to making contact.”
England: “Agree.”
Gillett:
“So after a review, the goalkeeper plays the ball, there’s no foul. Final decision, we drop ball.”
England: “Confirmed.”
As the transcript shows, England very much leads the discussion as he spots the touch from Pope. Questions will persist over just how ‘clear and obvious’ a mistake the original call to award a penalty was. Even after multiple viewings, Gillett still needs to be told exactly what he’s looking for (the minor touch). There is then a debate as to whether or not the touch matters, as Gyokeres is still impeded by Pope’s challenge, which stops him from running onto the ball.
