The decision by VAR not to overturn Brighton’s penalty against Arsenal, despite new footage emerging, centers around the judgment made by the officiating team.
The controversial moment occurred at The Amex Stadium when Brighton’s Joao Pedro went down following a seemingly minor head collision with Arsenal’s William Saliba.
Referee Anthony Taylor promptly awarded a penalty, a decision that sparked outrage among Arsenal players and fans.
Joao Pedro converted the penalty with ease, preserving his perfect record from the spot. This goal had significant implications in the Premier League title race, giving Liverpool an opportunity to widen the gap at the top with their next match against Manchester United.
Arsenal fans strongly called for a VAR review, urging officials to reassess the decision in light of the newly surfaced footage.
However, the VAR team upheld Taylor’s original call, explaining that there wasn’t enough evidence to deem it a clear and obvious error. They concluded that Saliba’s contact during the incident justified the penalty.
This explanation has not satisfied Arsenal supporters, many of whom have taken to social media to highlight replays suggesting that Saliba may have gotten a touch on the ball before the collision.
Critics argue that VAR should have dedicated more time to reviewing the incident thoroughly, especially as some angles appear to show Saliba making slight contact with the ball.
Even so, the force of the collision between Saliba and Pedro was likely judged as a foul, similar to how such contact might be penalized in other parts of the pitch.
Adding to Arsenal’s frustration, the incident could have escalated further, as some suggest Saliba might have been shown a red card for a deliberate headbutt if it had been interpreted differently.
This latest refereeing controversy has reignited tensions between Arsenal and the Premier League’s officiating body, the PGMOL.
The club has previously clashed with the organization over decisions they felt were unfair last season.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is expected to voice his frustration, given the potential impact this decision could have on their title ambitions.
Ultimately, while VAR’s decision was in line with the protocol of overturning only clear errors, the perceived lack of consistency in officiating continues to fuel criticism from fans and pundits alike.
Arsenal remains at the center of debates surrounding the use of VAR, leaving supporters to wonder if such controversies will ever be resolved in their favor
