Premier League asks referees’ body to investigate controversial VAR decisions

The Premier League has asked referees’ body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to review Video Assistant Referee (VAR) incidents at Chelsea and Newcastle on Saturday.

The day was marked by a series of decisions that were either overturned thanks to the intervention of VAR or not given despite the presence of the review system.

The Premier League has now called for an investigation into the circumstances around key decisions at Stamford Bridge and St James’ Park.

Using video footage and communicating via a headset, VAR can review decisions, in a bid to reduce the risk of human error – or ask the on-field referee to look at an incident again, using a monitor by the side of the pitch.

In west London, West Ham were denied a late equaliser when Maxwel Cornet’s goal was disallowed after a VAR review judged that Jarrod Bowen had fouled Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy in the build-up.

Hammers midfielder Declan Rice later called it “one of the worst VAR decisions since it came into the game”.

Meanwhile, in the North East, Newcastle had what would have been a winning goal disallowed for a foul by Joe Willock on Crystal Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita – despite Tyrick Mitchell pushing Willock into Guaita.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said: “It was a perfectly good goal in my opinion.”

Other incidents on Saturday which left fans and players outraged included Leeds being denied a penalty for a tackle on Crysencio Summerville by Aaron Hickey in their defeat against Brentford.

Philippe Coutinho’s goal against Manchester City was also disallowed after the assistant referee incorrectly flagged for offside, with VAR unable to overturn the decision as the whistle was blown before the ball went in.

Chelsea also fell foul of an incorrect call last month after Mike Dean admitted he should have given a red card to Spurs defender Cristian Romero for pulling left-back Marc Cucurella’s hair at a corner.

West Ham manager, David Moyes, told how he had “lost faith” in VAR after his team’s 2-1 defeat against Chelsea on Saturday following the disallowed goal.

“It was a ridiculously bad decision,” he said.