Ref Watch: Gallagher Discusses West Ham's Penalty and Ten Hag's Sacking

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In the latest installment of Ref Watch, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher analyzed the weekend's pivotal moments, focusing on key incidents including West Ham's late penalty that secured a victory over Manchester United and Arsenal's disallowed goal against Liverpool.

One significant incident involved Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt, who made contact with West Ham forward Danny Ings. Initially, referee David Coote waved play on, but after VAR official Michael Oliver suggested he review the footage, Coote awarded a penalty to West Ham, which Jarrod Bowen successfully converted. Gallagher commented on the decision-making process, suggesting that Coote's initial judgment was influenced by the perceived contact, stating, “I'm second-guessing, but I think he's seen the thighs come together and thinks De Ligt has gone into him.” He noted the expectation that VAR's recommendation to review the decision implies a clear error, which adds pressure on the on-field referee. Gallagher expressed surprise that Coote overturned his initial call, stating, “I really did think he would stick with the on-field decision, because the more I saw it, the more I was convinced it wasn't a penalty.”

Stephen Warnock weighed in, questioning why VAR intervened in this situation, suggesting that Coote should have stood firm in his original decision. He pondered if the seniority of Oliver played a role in the dynamic between referees. Sue Smith criticized the VAR intervention, arguing that the initial decision was correct and pointing out that while there was contact, it was not enough to warrant a penalty.

Another controversial moment occurred when Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus had a late goal disallowed after referee Anthony Taylor penalized Jakub Kiwior for a foul on Dominik Szoboszlai prior to the ball entering the net. Gallagher stated that this was a subjective call for the referee, while Warnock felt a yellow card was justified in that instance. Smith noted that if the ball had been heading towards the goal, the challenge could have warranted a red card.

In the Chelsea versus Newcastle match, Gallagher commented on a potential penalty incident involving Levi Colwill's challenge on Bruno Guimaraes. He believed that while there was contact, it occurred outside the box and warranted a yellow card, not a red. He remarked, "It's outside the box! I think he's missed a foul; it's a foul and a yellow card."

Another pivotal moment in the Chelsea match was a late penalty awarded to Chelsea for Dan Burn's hold on Christopher Nkunku. However, after VAR intervention, Simon Hooper rescinded his decision, and Gallagher supported this reversal, asserting, “This is exactly what VAR's for.” He emphasized that the initial call was incorrect, indicating that it was a good decision to review the situation.

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In the match between Aston Villa and Bournemouth, an opening goal by Villa's captain John McGinn was ruled out for a ball that had gone out of play before being passed to him by Ollie Watkins. Gallagher maintained that the ball did cross the line, observing Watkins' lack of celebration as indicative of his belief that the ball was out. Warnock praised VAR for providing clarity in this situation, as the slow-motion replays clearly showed the ball had indeed crossed the line, allowing for an accurate decision.

This analysis highlights the complexities and challenges referees face during matches, especially when technology like VAR is involved, as well as the ongoing discussions surrounding its implementation and effectiveness in ensuring fair play.

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