Premier League admits incorrect VAR penalty decisions in all 3 games Thursday
There were incorrect penalty decisions made by the video assistant referee in all three Premier League games on Thursday, the league said.
Former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher confirmed to BBC Sport that penalties were incorrectly awarded to Manchester United and Southampton while Tottenham was refused what should have been a penalty itself.
United: Villa manager calls goal ‘disgraceful decision’
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes was given a spot-kick after a tackle from Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa, which appeared to be inadvertent. Referee Jon Moss awarded a penalty and VAR confirmed it. Fernandes scored on the ensuing kick.
The final was 3-0 in United’s favor and the Red Devils became the first team in league history to win four consecutive games by at least three goals. They also have the most penalties awarded of any Premier League team at 13.
Villa manager Dean Smith said it was a “disgraceful decision.” Per the BBC:
“I can understand Jon [Moss, referee] getting it wrong but I don't know what VAR are looking at," he said. "They have a screen they can go and look at it but they don't seem to be bothered.
“Fernandes is trying a double drag-back - his first touch is on the ball, his second touch is on Ezri Konsa's shin.”
Manchester United manager Ole Gunner Solskjaer said he believed it was a penalty.
Southampton awarded penalty
Southampton also should not have been awarded a penalty, the Premier League said, but was anyway. The Saints played to a 1-1 draw with Everton after James Ward-Prowse missed his penalty.
Ward-Prowse was given the kick after appearing to fall into Andre Gomes.
“The performance of the referee was like my team, not so good,” said Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti, per BBC Sports.
Tottenham: ‘Everyone in the world’ saw penalty
Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho said “everyone in the world” believed his team should have been awarded a penalty — except VAR and referee Michael Oliver.
Bournemouth’s Joshua King shoved Tottenham’s Harry Kane in the 0-0 draw, but the Spurs were not given the penalty. Oliver could have jumped in to reverse the decision with a review.
Oliver was also on VAR duty when Kane’s goal was ruled out in a 3-1 loss for Tottenham last week against Sheffield United. Mourinho said the “man of the match was not one of the players” in both instances. He said, per BBC Sports, “powerful people do not like to be criticized.”
More from Yahoo Sports:
