Premier League refereeing under fire after weekend of VAR controversies | OneFootball

This weekend’s Premier League matches brought a series of contentious refereeing decisions.

This reignited the ongoing debates about the consistency and application of VAR. Here’s a look at the key incidents.

Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Arsenal: A costly penalty for the Gunners

Arsenal’s draw at Brighton & Hove Albion sparked outrage after William Saliba was penalised for a seemingly light touch on Joao Pedro.

Saliba attempted to clear the ball, making minimal contact with his opponent, yet referee Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty.

VAR upheld the decision, with the Premier League later defending it as involving ‘sufficient contact’.

Gunners manager Mikel Arteta disagreed, voicing frustration over the lack of consistency in such calls.

The decision could prove damaging in their pursuit of the title, while Brighton benefited from a moment of officiating controversy.

Ipswich Town 2-2 Fulham: Silva slams ‘sub-par’ refereeing

Fulham manager Marco Silva did not mince words when criticising referee Darren Bond for his failure to send off Ipswich defender Leif Davis.

Davis stopped Harry Wilson’s run on goal with an illegal challenge, receiving only a yellow card. Silva insisted it was a clear red card and questioned the referee’s competence at this level.

While Silva agreed with the penalties awarded, he noted VAR’s role in overturning Bond’s initial call on Fulham’s first spot-kick.

Despite these moments, Fulham’s defending allowed a spirited Ipswich side to claim a deserved draw.

Liverpool 3-3 Manchester United: De Ligt’s handball sparks debate again

Matthijs de Ligt was at the centre of another penalty controversy in Liverpool’s thrilling draw with Manchester United.

Referee Michael Oliver initially missed the Dutchman’s handball, but VAR intervened, deeming his raised arm to be in an unnatural position.

Mohamed Salah converted the resulting penalty, giving Liverpool the lead temporarily.

Former United Gary Neville backed the decision, but it highlighted the subjective nature of handball rulings.

This was another costly incident involving De Ligt, raising concerns about his defensive positioning in critical moments.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Newcastle United: Handball controversy adds to Spurs’ woes

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou was livid after Newcastle United’s equaliser was allowed to stand despite Joelinton’s handball in the build-up.

VAR ruled the contact accidental, citing that Joelinton’s arm was in a natural position.

Postecoglou avoided directly criticising the officials but strongly hinted at injustice, stating his side would have won on a ‘fair and even playing ground’.

The result extended Spurs’ slump, with injuries and illness further compounding their struggles. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe defended the decision, asserting that VAR followed protocols.