Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton dealt with VAR shockers during their Premier League draws over the weekend, sparking fans of the clubs to fume over being 'robbed' of crucial wins.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton fans remain furious over the VAR shockers their teams endured during Saturday's Premier League clashes against West Ham, Brentford and Crystal Palace respectively. While the Blues were not awarded a spot kick against West Ham when Tomas Soucek blatantly handled the ball inside the penalty area, the Gunners were left fuming after VAR granted an offside goal to Brenforts that could affect their title race. Meanwhile, Brighton had a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside because of human error by the video assistant referee operator in their draw at Selhurst Park.
During the West Ham vs Chelsea clash, which ended in a 1-1 draw, Soucek handled an effort from Conor Gallagher in the 89th minute leading to several Blues' stars begging referee Craig Pawson for a penalty. The on-field referee dismissed claims while a short VAR check backed up the original call. Many supporters were perplexed and wondered why a spot kick wasn't awarded. Reports claim that Soucek's hand was breaking his fall to the ground, so a penalty was not granted to Chelsea.
That's a penalty 😭😫
VAR 🙆 pic.twitter.com/f8tWMkuJU7
Meanwhile, during Arsenal's 1-1 draw against Brentford at the Emirates, video referee Lee Mason reportedly forgot to draw offside lines on Ivan Toney's controversial equaliser in a mistake that could impact Mikel Arteta and Co's fight for the title. If the VAR lines had been drawn, Christian Norgaard would have been in an offside position when he crossed for Ivan Toney, and the goal would have been disallowed.
what is the use of VAR ?
When title leaders are robbed by a Clear Offside
Why weren't the lines checked for this passage of play !!!! the equaliser shud never stand. pic.twitter.com/7Vh4ZQnRoA
During Brighton's 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace, Pervis Estupinan looked to have put the Seagulls in front in the first half. VAR John Brooks intervened and ruled that the Ecuador defender was offside when he received Pascal Gross' pass. The offside line, however, should have been drawn from Marc Guehi, a Palace defender who was just behind James Tomkins. Brighton's left-back would have been onside if the line had been drawn from Guehi, and the goal would have stood.
Did VAR get this one wrong ❓
Brighton's Pervis Estupinan was denied the opening goal at Crystal Palace for this offside decision 🚩
Let us know what you think 💬 pic.twitter.com/6V3Ru9Q9Rq
Reacting to the VAR shocker during Chelsea's draw against West Ham, manager Graham Potter sarcastically stated, "It was a good save. You need your goalkeeper sometimes to give you the points. It looks like one of those that, if it was given, it wouldn't have been overturned. But obviously it wasn't given. It looked quite a handball and, like I said, I didn't know Tomas could get down so easily and save like that. It's a good stop from him."
"It was a good save" 👀
Graham Potter discusses the Tomas Soucek handball which was not awarded as a penalty for Chelsea 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/DRMcPMLFdW
Meanwhile, a furious Arteta said, "I just looked back and it is offside. Have they explained why it wasn't allowed? No. It is frustrating, but they will probably give an explanation later in the week. Today we haven't got one."
🗣️ "We apply what the referees tell us every week."
Mikel Arteta reacts to VAR, Leandro Trossard and Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brentford.
The three incidents have sent Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton fans into a tizzy, with most taking to Twitter to claim that they were robbed of their victories.
"That Soucek handball is up there in terms of ridiculous VAR decisions, the scariest thing is it took them 5 seconds to decide it wasn't a handball, so so poor," noted one Chelsea supporter on the micro-blogging site.
An Arsenal fan stated, "@premierleague @EnglandFootball what is the use of VAR? When title leaders @Arsenal are robbed by a Clear Offside @BrentfordFC. Why weren't the lines checked for this passage of play. The equaliser shud never stand."
"I’m trying to look at the Lee Mason ‘forgetting to draw VAR’ lines objectively without my Arsenal hat on. But for anyone, in any high profile job, how is that not a top tier offence? The same happened today for Palace v Brighton in a derby," said another Arsenal supporter.
Meanwhile, a Brighton fan noted, "We need VAR to check VAR. Another team who review the work of Stockley Park to see if they've made a total fuck up. And if the VAR team who check the VAR team make a mistake, let's have another VAR team for the VAR team who check the original VAR team. Only way to end the madness."
Here's a look at how Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton supporters reacted to the VAR howlers during Saturday's Premier League matches:
Neil Swarbrick, who didn’t see that Soucek handball as a penalty, is the Premier League’s head of VAR.
— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_)Offside at
Hand ball at - Serious question!
Do the people in the VAR room actually know the rules ??
Both on field and VAR officials need to be upgraded.
Chelsea and Arsenal both robbed. It won't stop and it's really disappointing.
Why are clubs not making a big deal about the VAR decisions?. Look at that blatant handball by Soucek yesterday, cost Chelsea all 3 points, same with Brighton and Arsenal. It's beyound just talks now, strong actions should be taken!.
— Patto (@ThaBigSize)Bad day for VAR again today. Very clear handball by Soucek against Chelsea and at least one (if not two) offsides directly involved in Brentford’s goal against Arsenal. The implementation of tech that should be simple has been shambolic. pic.twitter.com/XzUJhci8G4
— IrishArsenal (@ArsenalEire)West Ham 1 Chelsea 1. Emerson's composed finish cancelled out Felix's well-taken volley. West Ham had a late winner rightly disallowed for offside and, far more controversially, robbed of a penalty after a clear Tomas Soucek handball. No idea how it wasn't given. 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/M801nBgFb8
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen)Arsenal, Brighton + Chelsea should've won yesterday but VAR official had to decide the games personally. Frauds
— JB (@JoshuaBritton94)To those who suggest Football is not corrupt & that outcomes of matches aren’t being influenced by VAR decisions, today we got;
- Arsenal Brentford - ‘forgot to draw Offside lines’
- Palace Brighton - ‘human error, we made a mistake’
- West Ham Chelsea - ‘didn’t spot handball’
These half-arsed apologies regarding VAR errors are no longer good enough. These mishaps are having a huge influence & say on results & standings. Would rather officials take extra time to ensure they’re making the correct call. Brentford offside & Soucek handball are just basic.
— Ryan Taylor (@RyanTaylorSport)VAR in the Premier League today… Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton all robbed by errors. Ridiculous pic.twitter.com/o1NWjcAIlu
— Dom (@Dominicwo)VAR made three ludicrous errors in the Chelsea, Arsenal & Brighton games yesterday. These officials will keep their jobs in the next round of games and the one after. Nothing will change. It is not an agenda. It is systemic failure on the part of
— DamiLare A. (@DreyKanmzs)The guy who's the new head of VAR was refereeing Chelsea's game vs West Ham and didn't see a blatant handball but your using because he's from Manchester and so is Anthony Taylor who helped Arsenal win 2 FA Cups 🤔 https://t.co/WzZCzKZawC
— Daniel It's Time It's Enzo Time 💙🔥 (@CFCDANIELMTG)2 truly shocking VAR decisions cost Chelsea and Arsenal victories in the EPL. You have to wonder if those officials are just incompetent or corrupt.
The fact that the beneficiaries West Ham and Brentford are sponsored by betting companies only thickens the plot pic.twitter.com/wXQlhLCJjT
The needs to seriously look at which jackasses handle the VAR rooms
Maybe have 2/3 people in charge?
Didn’t give a blatant penalty to Chelsea, ‘forgot’ to draw lines in the Arsenal game
And this in the richest league on the planet
Consequences r MASSIVE!!! pic.twitter.com/ttZbTUlLez
Just caught up on some of the other games. VAR had a cracker didnt it…
Soucek save v Chelsea
Line for an offside put in wrong place at Palace game.
Norgard offside missed at Arsenal.
Said it before, VAR has a place but not when incompetent individuals control it.
3 incorrect VAR decisions saw 3 different teams drop 2 points needlessly all in one day. Arsenal, Chelsea and Brighton were all victims.
When will it finally be too much? When will PGMOL finally overhaul the entire VAR team? https://t.co/wJdgWqPQWO
Neil Swarbrick (), who didn’t see that Soucek handball as a penalty, is the Premier League’s head of VAR. and should know this man is so corrupt. He took 5-10mins to check Westham's goal but doesn't bother to check this blatant handball. pic.twitter.com/MO3ywLvQMQ
— CFC Buddy 💙💙 (@CFCBuddy)That Soucek handball is up there in terms of ridiculous VAR decisions, the scariest thing is it took them 5 seconds to decide it wasn’t a handball, so so poor 😱😱😱
— Darren Farley (@DFImpressionist)VAR potentially costing Arsenal in the title race. VAR wrongly ruling out Brighton’s goal and also costing Chelsea a penalty. What will you hear about it from them? NOTHING. There’s actually no point of it at this point now. Poor once again.
— United Agenda (@Utd__Agenda)WOW Brighton arsenals & Chelsea’s VAR decisions. Massive step closer to turning my back on football, it’s blatant football corruption. Danny Murphy it’s a lack of understanding”it’s not it’s match fixing by the authorities in charge of the game!
— Dave lfc (@Davelfc11)VAR was so bad yesterday for Chelsea, Arsenal, Palace AND Brighton. Honestly would just love one full season where VAR doesn't make a mistake just to see what league should actually look like for once
Clearly VAR can't be used perfectly so days like yesterday are inevitable
In just one day, VAR and the referees have made 3 inexcusable mistakes, which have huge ramifications.
Arsenal lose 2 points in their title race, and Brighton/Chelsea lose 2 points in their battle for European football.
Something needs to be done.