The VAR Review: Tottenham vs. Chelsea – timeline of chaos،
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) sparks controversy every week in the Premier League, but how are decisions made and are they correct?
After each weekend we return to major incidents to review and explain the process in terms of VAR protocol and the laws of the game.
– How VAR decisions affected each Prem club in 2023-24
– VAR in the Premier League: Ultimate Guide
Chelsea’s 4-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday was a non-stop wave of drama, with red cards, disallowed goals, a penalty and endless VAR. Here’s how the drama unfolded.
14th minute: Son’s goal disallowed for offside
What happened: Tottenham were already leading 1-0 and thought they had increased their lead when Son Heung-Min scored after latching onto a pass from Brennan Johnson, but the flag went up for offside.
VAR decision: Without any goal.
VAR review: A close call, but Son was slightly ahead of the last defender.
18th minute: Possible red card for Udogie
What happened: Destiny Udogie jumped with both feet and got the ball without catching Raheem Sterling. Referee Michael Oliver produced the yellow card.
VAR decision: No red card.
VAR review: Udogie is exceptionally lucky, because on another day it could have been a red. The Spurs defender leaves the ground then launches into the challenge. Just on the verge of a VAR intervention from John Brooks, who judged him reckless with a just about acceptable yellow card.
21st minute: Possible handball from Sterling during the goal
What happened: Reece James passed the ball to Sterling with the outside of his right boot, and the striker burst into the box and scored. But there was a check for handball.
VAR decision: Goal disallowed.
VAR Review: As Sterling entered the area, the ball bounced off his arm from Pedro Porro. As Sterling was the scorer this had to be disallowed.
21st minute: possible red card from Romero
What happened: Cristian Romero appeared to kick Levi Colwill off the ball and VAR verified a red card.
VAR decision: No red card.
VAR Review: Romero was not removed with any force, so this would be considered irritable, non-violent conduct.
28th minute: Caicedo’s goal ruled out for offside against Jackson
What happened: Moisés Caicedo thought he had scored, but after a brief conversation between Oliver and his assistant, they decided Nicolas Jackson was offside as the shot went through on goal.
VAR decision: Without any goal.
VAR Review: Jackson being offside was a marginal call, but he was ahead of the last defender. As the ball went through Jackson’s legs, it was the right decision to rule him out.
Even though it is a subjective offside, as the decision has not been changed, the referee does not need to go to the monitor.
28th minute: Red card and penalty possible, foul by Romero on Fernández
What happened: After offside was checked, VAR then looked at a possible penalty moments before for Romero’s challenge on Enzo Fernández.
VAR decision: Red card and penalty, scored by Cole Palmer.
VAR Review: A long all-in VAR check, but undoubtedly the right call. The fact that Romero touched the ball doesn’t matter because of the force and the high point of contact on Fernández’s shin.
Even if Caicedo’s goal had stood, the VAR would have returned to examine the tackle to obtain a red card.
37th minute: Jackson’s goal canceled for offside
What happened: Fernández played in for Sterling, who allowed Jackson to score – and the delayed flag went up for offside.
VAR decision: Without any goal.
VAR Review: A clear offside against Sterling at the start of the action and easy control.
45+7 minutes: Penalty possible, Porro on Sterling
What happened: Sterling broke into the box and fell under a challenge from Porro.
VAR decision: No penalty.
VAR Review: Oliver got it right, Sterling falling far too easily into a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge.
45+11 minutes: possible red card for James
What happened: In the final moments of added time of the first half, James challenged Udogie with a raised arm. Oliver took no action, but was there reason to receive a red card?
VAR decision: No red card.
VAR Review: James is lucky because this too could very easily have been considered violent behavior. The Chelsea captain seemed to lead with this arm but in no way seemed to throw it at his opponent.
54th minute: Udogie red card
What happened: A second yellow card, therefore not a decision for VAR as Udogie was late in a challenge on Sterling, having already received the warning in the first half.
75th minute: Possible offside against Sterling on Jackson’s goal
What happened: Chelsea led 2-1 in the 75th minute when Sterling allowed Jackson to score. But it was a close call.
VAR decision: The objective is maintained.
VAR Review: Sterling had just timed his run to stay in play.
78th minute: Dier offside during the goal
What happened: Spurs thought they had scored a dramatic equalizer with nine men, but the assistant raised his flag at Dier.
VAR decision: Without any goal.
VAR Review: Dier was in play from the first ball towards the box, but when Rodrigo Bentancur deflected it, he was right in front of the last defender, who was Caicedo near the penalty spot.
Parts of this article include information provided by the Premier League and PGMOL.
