Latest news with #VAR
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Everton sent surprising VAR verdict as three mistakes identified
Everton topped the Premier League last season when it came to benefitting from VAR errors. That's according to an analysis of decisions following the 2025-26 campaign. The Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel identified 18 VAR mistakes across the entire campaign, with three of those working in the Blues' favour. Advertisement The club did not have a single mistake go against it, according to the KMI panel - despite controversial moments such as the use of technology to disallow a stoppage time penalty awarded against Manchester United when Ashley Young appeared to be brought down at Goodison Park. READ MORE: Everton transfer stance on Omari Hutchinson after David Moyes pitch impresses team-mate READ MORE: Villarreal manager makes major Thierno Barry transfer claim amid Everton interest - 'We accept it' Brighton and Hove Albion also had three mistaken calls work to their advantage but the south coast club had one that worked against them. Everton were credited with none. Advertisement Brentford were the side worst hit by incorrect calls according to an analysis of the reviews carried out by ESPN. They had three errors go against them. That included the sending off of Christian Norgaard in the goalless draw at Goodison Park. Christian Norgaard red for lunge on Jordan Pickford The Bees captain was shown a straight red card just before half-time in this clash back in November. No foul was awarded at the time but VAR intervened to send the referee to the monitor and suggest red was the most appropriate punishment after Norgaard made contact with Pickford's knee while lunging for the ball. The KMI panel was split 3-2 in favour of the original decision to play on, though the minority argued there was 'high, full and forceful contact with the studs'. Advertisement Everton were unable to take advantage of the extra man and the game ended 0-0. Everton's fourth in romp over Wolves The game was well and truly over by this stage but Everton benefitted from a failure to uphold the rules of offside according to the KMI panel. Midway through the second half, Craig Dawson scored his second own goal of the game to give Everton an unassailable 4-0 lead in what felt like a meeting of real significance near the bottom of the table at the time. That goal should have been chalked off, however, because Abdoulaye Doucoure blocked an opponent. The panel found the on-field decision to allow the goal was wrong - as was the failure of the VAR to recommend a check. Advertisement James Tarkowski on Alexis Mac Allister The KMI panel voted unanimously to agree that Everton captain James Tarkowski should have been sent off for his challenge on Alexis Mac Allister in the Merseyside derby at Anfield. The first half incident was a major talking point and the panel found: "The clear dangerous nature of the challenge is not mitigated by Tarkowski winning the ball first. A clear example of endangering the safety of an opponent."
Morocco World
a day ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
Wydad Finish 2025 Club World Cup Campaign with 2-1 Loss to Al Ain
Marrakech – Wydad concluded their Club World Cup journey with a 2-1 defeat to Al Ain at Washington's Audi Field on Thursday. The Moroccan champions, who opened the scoring through Cassius Mailula in the fourth minute, ultimately finished bottom of Group G without a single point. Al Ain responded with goals from captain Kodjo Laba, who converted a penalty just before halftime, and Alejandro Romero, who netted the winner five minutes after the break. The victory was the first for the Emirati side in the tournament, though both teams had already been eliminated prior to this final group match. The contest began brightly for Wydad when Mailula capitalized on an excellent buildup. Nordin Amrabat delivered a long pass to Omar Al Somah, who quickly centered the ball for the South African striker. Mailula controlled skillfully, turned, and fired a precise shot into the top corner past Rui Patricio. Wydad nearly doubled their advantage in the 20th minute when Ayoub Boucheta's powerful effort struck the crossbar. The Moroccan side showed promising attacking intent during the opening exchanges. Al Ain gradually worked their way back into the match. Their persistence paid off in first-half stoppage time when referee Drew Fischer awarded a penalty after VAR review confirmed Boucheta had fouled Adis Jasic in the box. Laba stepped up and dispatched the spot-kick with confidence, sending Mehdi Benabid the wrong way. The Emirati club completed their comeback in the 50th minute through Romero. The goal came after a flowing move involving Facundo Zabala and Matías Palacios, with the latter providing the final assist for Romero's clinical left-footed finish into the top corner. The goal underwent VAR review but was ultimately confirmed. Wydad pushed for an equalizer but struggled to create clear opportunities in the second half. Their best chance came when Zemraoui's shot rattled the crossbar. Meanwhile, Al Ain had opportunities to extend their lead, with Laba missing a golden chance in the 76th minute when he failed to hit the target from close range following Soufiane Rahimi's setup. The match grew increasingly physical in the closing stages, with Nordin Amrabat receiving a yellow card in the 83rd minute after a confrontation with Palacios. The referee added eight minutes of stoppage time, but Wydad couldn't find a way through Al Ain's determined defense. With this result, Wydad end their campaign at the bottom of Group G with zero points and a -6 goal difference. Manchester City and Juventus had already secured qualification to the knockout stages with six points each, rendering this match inconsequential for tournament progression. The defeat marks a disappointing conclusion for the Moroccan champions in the expanded Club World Cup format, having failed to register a single point across their group matches against elite opposition. Tags: 2025 FIFA Club World CupAl AinWydad Athletic Club (WAC)
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Every Premier League VAR blunder and the worst-affected teams confirmed
There were a number of high-profile VAR mistakes over the course of the 2024-25 season, with certain Premier League clubs getting a raw deal once the dust settled The Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel has identified 18 VAR mistakes across the 2024-25 season, an improvement on the previous campaign. The figure is a significant drop on the previous campaign, though there will still be some who expected perfection from the introduction of the new technology. All 20 clubs in the league voted on keeping VAR ahead of the season, with Wolves the only club to call for it to be scrapped entirely. Despite the league persisting with Video Assistant Referees, there were widespread calls for changes to improve the process. Premier League clubs made the case for more regular and better training for referees in an effort to improve the current state of play. They also asked for set teams of VAR officials to encourage better understanding between officials, as well as pushing for a drastic cut in delays and better messaging for fans in stadiums, with the latter an oft-repeated concern for match-going fans. So, about those 18 errors over the course of the 2024-25 season. The Key Match Officials panel comprises former players and/or coaches as well as one representative for the Premier League and one for PGMOL. ESPN has shed light on the mistakes identified by the panel over the course of the most recent Premier League season. Here, Mirror Football sheds more light on the errors - as well as which clubs were harmed more than others. 1. Dango Ouattara (Bournemouth vs Newcastle) The first VAR error took place on the opening weekend of the season. Bournemouth forward Ouattara thought he had scored a late winner, only for the effort to be chalked off for handball. The KMI panel voted unanimously that VAR got the decision wrong. That extra point for Newcastle was certainly helpful, with Eddie Howe's side ultimately qualifying for the Champions League on goal difference alone, though it's too simplistic to argue a decision on the opening weekend made all the difference. 2. Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd vs Tottenham) Another unanimous vote here. Fernandes was shown a straight red card during Manchester United's loss at home to Tottenham in September, with all five panelists believing that to be a mistake. United trailed 1-0 at the time and went on to lose 3-0. Fernandes' suspension was ultimately overturned on appeal, allowing the Portuguese to return to action. 3. Matthijs de Ligt (West Ham vs Man Utd) The KMI panel votes on the referee and the VAR in these instances. As with the Ouattara incident, the panel backed the on-field referee unanimously but went the other way when it came to the VAR intervention. No penalty was initially awarded after United defender De Ligt challenged Hammers striker Danny Ings late in the second half. A long VAR check saw referee Michael Oliver point to the spot, and Jarrod Bowen converted from 12 yards to win the game for West Ham. 4. Christian Norgaard (Everton vs Brentford) Brentford captain Norgaard was shown a straight red card during the first half of his team's draw at Everton. The Dane stretched for a ball at the back post and ended up connecting with home goalkeeper Jordan Pickford - enough for the VAR to intervene. This is the first split decision on the list, with the panel explaining (via ESPN): "The panel were split (3:2), with the majority deeming the on-field decision correct as 'both players are committed to normal footballing actions.' Two panelists deemed the on-field decision incorrect as 'whilst this was a challenge for the ball, there was a high, full and forceful contact with the studs.'" 5. Ian Maatsen (Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace) Some of the mistakes relate to non-intervention when VAR might have been better placed getting involved. One such instance relates to Maatsen's foul on Ismaila Sarr, with the panel arguing - by split decision - that he should have seen red. The argument comes down to whether Maatsen denied Sarr a clear goalscoring opportunity. While the on-field referee and VAR official believed there was a covering defender, the panel wasn't so sure. 6. Abdoulaye Doucoure (Everton vs Wolves) Not all of the decisions on this list had a huge bearing on the match outcome. Everton were already three goals to the good against Wolves when they benefited from what the panel considers to have been an incorrect call. Doucoure was ruled not to be interfering while stood in an offside position in the lead-up to a Craig Dawson own goal. Curiously, Everton had earlier seen a goal chalked off for a similar offence but were not punished for a second time. 7. Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa) There was significant late drama when Forest beat Villa in December, with the home side scoring twice in the final five minutes to turn defeat into victory. However, the VAR controversy in the game came early on with the scores still level. Villa appealed for a penalty as Forest midfielder Anderson pulled back Morgan Rogers, but no spot-kick was forthcoming. The KMI panel argued by a margin of three to two that there was enough holding inside the box to warrant a penalty. 8. Pervis Estupinan (West Ham vs Brighton) When West Ham and Brighton played out a draw in December, all the drama took place after the break. Mats Wieffer and Mohammed Kudus exchanged goals, while Brighton defender Estupinan risked a late red card for serious foul play. Neither the on-field ref or the VAR felt the Ecuadorian deserved to be dismissed for his foul on Max Kilman, but the KMI panel didn't see things that way. "The action of Estupinian has speed, force, intensity and endangers the safety of the opponent," they said. 9. Joao Pedro (Brighton vs Brentford) Just one week later, another Brighton player escaped a red card. Joao Pedro flung an elbow at Brentford's Yehor Yarmoliuk but stayed on the field. The Brazilian made no contact with his opponent, but this doesn't mean he should have escaped dismissal. Indeed, the KMI panel argued unanimously that the officials got it wrong. 10. Alexis Mac Allister (West Ham vs Liverpool) After finding themselves on the right end of a VAR penalty mistake in October, West Ham were on the wrong end in December. They might feel it could have made a big difference, too, with a 1-0 deficit growing into a 5-0 defeat after the decision. Mac Allister threw Carlos Soler to the ground off the ball, with the KMI panel split on the call as some argued it had no impact on play. The defeat ended up being Julen Lopetegui's last game at the London Stadium, with the manager dismissed after a loss at Manchester City a few days later. 11. Wes Burns (Ipswich vs Brighton) After finding themselves the beneficiaries of VAR errors in December, Brighton were on the other end in January. The Seagulls appealed for an early penalty at Ipswich after Burns impeded Jan Paul van Hecke, but didn't get the decision. Ultimately it didn't matter too much, with Fabian Hurzeler's side going on to win 2-0. Had they failed to find the breakthrough, though, they may well have dwelt on that missed call. 12. Nikola Milenkovic (Nottingham Forest vs Southampton) Nottingham Forest's win against Southampton in January was far more tense than it needed to be. Part of that was the hosts seeing a 3-0 lead reduced to 3-2, and part comes down to the disallowed goal which might have stopped that happening. Milenkovic thought he'd made it 4-1 moments after the Saints' first, only for the goal to be chalked off for offside against team-mate Chris Wood. According to the panel, though, Wood made no impact on an opponent and the goal should have been allowed to stand. 13. Myles Lewis-Skelly (Wolves vs Arsenal) Arsenal youngster Lewis-Skelly received a first-half red card at Molineux after stopping a counter-attack. There were no arguments about him being penalised for his foul on Matt Doherty, but the visitors were shocked by the colour of the card shown to him. Arsenal still won the game, with Wolves also ending the game with 10 men, and Lewis-Skelly's suspension was later overturned. "Yeah obviously really happy that the decision has been made and Myles is going to be available for us," Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said. 14. Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton vs Aston Villa) After that January error, we had to wait until April for another VAR decision which the KMI panel felt to be the wrong one. However, it was one of two on the same day. Brighton youngster Hinshelwood avoided punishment for a foul on Jacob Ramsey, with the panel unanimously arguing Villa should have won a penalty. It didn't impact the final score, with Unai Emery's side going on to win 3-0. 15. James Tarkowski (Liverpool vs Everton) A second VAR mistake on April 2 and a second with a unanimous response from the KMI panel. Everton defender Tarkowski was only shown a yellow card for a foul on Alexis Mac Allister which many at the time felt should have earned him a red. "The clear dangerous nature of the challenge is not mitigated by Tarkowski winning the ball first," the panel said. "A clear example of endangering the safety of an opponent." 16. Caoimhin Kelleher (Fulham vs Liverpool) Liverpool suffered just their second league defeat of the season in April when Fulham got the better of them at Craven Cottage. The London side even managed to shake off a controversial decision in which they were denied a penalty. Reds keeper Kelleher took out Fulham's Andreas Pereira after the Brazilian played the ball across. The Irish international wasn't punished, but it ultimately didn't stop the hosts running out 3-2 winners. 17. Evanilson (Bournemouth vs Man Utd) Another moment of Bournemouth controversy after that opening day drama. Once again, Andoni Iraola's side may feel the VAR mistake impacted the result, as they led 1-0 at the time but ended up only drawing. Evanilson was sent off after a challenge on United's Noussair Mazraoui. He appeared to slip into the challenge, though, and this was cited in the panel's explanation, with the Brazilian's ban ultimately overturned. 18. Axel Tuanzebe (Ipswich vs Brentford) We end with relegated Ipswich, who were already down when they got a meaningless let-off against Brentford. Defender Tuanzebe dragged Bees counterpart Nathan Collins to the ground, but no penalty was awarded. The panel argued the holding between the players was not mutual, with Tuanzebe holding his opponent with both arms. The decision has no bearing on the result, with Brentford 1-0 up at the time and winning by the same scoreline. Who benefited the most... and who suffered Brentford suffered the most from those incorrect decisions, finding themselves on the wrong end on three occasions and not benefiting from a mistake even once. At the other end of the scale are Everton, who gained on three occasions and lost out on none. ESPN also looked at the biggest beneficiaries of VAR decisions - not just those errors listed above - over the course of the season. Newcastle are out in front in that field, with 13 decisions in favour and just four against, with Bournemouth at the other end after four decisions in their favour and 11 against. Three teams - Chelsea, Leicester and Manchester City - were involved in no VAR errors all season long. In fact, City only had four VAR interventions in their games in total - three in their favour and one against. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Auckland City pull off stunning draw against Boca Juniors at FIFA Club World Cup
Christian Gray of Auckland City FC celebrates after scoring his team's first goal on a header past Boca Juniors during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Photo:After being humiliated in their first two FIFA Club World Cup games , New Zealand's representative team has produced a result for the ages, drawing 1-1 with South American giants Boca Juniors. Christian Gray, who spends his workdays as teacher at Mt Roskill Intermediate School, struck in the 52nd minute. The 28-year-old climbed high to connect with Jerson Lagos' perfect corner kick, heading home and stunning the 35-time Argentine champions at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee. Auckland City's New Zealander defender Christian Gray (L) celebrates scoring his team's first goal next to Boca Juniors' Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani in Nashville. Photo: AFP / Federico Parra That wasn't the only drama, as shortly after the match was delayed for half an hour due to torrential rain and lightning strikes. When play finally resumed, Boca looked to had taken the lead through Miguel Merentiel, only to be denied when VAR spotted a handball by Kevin Zenón. Earlier, it looked like the match was progressing according to virtually all predictions when Boca took the lead through an own goal when a cross by Lautaro Di Lollo unluckily ricocheted off goalkeeper Nathan Garrow and into the goal. Boca came into the game having drawn against Portuguese club Benfica and lost against Bayern Munich and would've felt confident of a big win against the unfancied Aucklanders. They required a 7-0 win to overturn Benfica's goal difference advantage, and given Auckland City had conceded 16 goals in their two games, it was certainly on the cards. Boca Juniors' Argentine defender #40 Lautaro Di Lollo, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group C football match in Nashville. Photo: AFP / Federico Parra However, thanks to Gray's heroics and some incredibly committed defence, Auckland City managed to pull off a result that will reverberate strongly around the football world. Already in the spotlight thanks to their 10-0 opening loss to Bayern, Auckland City's very presence was casting some serious doubt over the already somewhat flimsy legitimacy of the tournament. So therefore it was fitting that FIFA President Gianni Infantino was on hand to witness the heroics, with the result certain to be highlighted by the game's powerful global governing body to justify the exorbitant amount of money they have spent on the Club World Cup. This ends the campaigns for both Auckland City FC and Boca Juniors, with Bayern and Benfica progressing from their group to the next round. It is highly likely that the reception when Gray and his side return home will be a much happier one now after a day to remember. See how the game unfolded with RNZ's live blog: Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Dubai Eye
4 days ago
- Sport
- Dubai Eye
Atletico suffer early Club World Cup exit after group stage heartbreak
Atletico Madrid will have to pack their bags and head home earlier than expected from the Club World Cup, after being knocked out in the group stage following a heavy 4-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain. Diego Simeone's side were eliminated despite a 1-0 victory over Brazil's Botafogo in their final Group B match on Monday, as they finished third in the so-called "group of death", level on six points with PSG and Botafogo but falling short on goal difference. Simeone's men arrived in the US with high hopes, boasting a squad that included Argentinian forward Julian Alvarez, former France captain Antoine Griezmann and several other international names. However, their heavy loss to PSG and lacklustre performances overall raised further questions about the team's direction under their long-serving manager. Reflecting on the campaign, Simeone expressed pride in his players' efforts but lamented what he deemed poor officiating. "Proud of the boys' work. We gave absolutely everything we had. We won two out of three matches and even so, sadly we're out,' he told DAZN after the Botafogo win. "With six points, it wasn't bad, but the match against PSG condemned us, where every refereeing decision always went against us. Today's game also had a penalty decision overturned after a VAR review. It's more of the same. We know what we need to improve, and this will help us move forward." Griezmann was the standout performer against Botafogo, scoring the decisive goal and providing a rare spark for a side that has struggled to replicate the defensive prowess seen in Simeone's best years, when they reached two Champions League finals. Despite dominating possession, Atletico rarely troubled Botafogo's organised defence and needed their goalkeeper Jan Oblak to work their magic against their Brazilian rivals to avoid a worst result. The previous defeat by PSG had already exposed familiar weaknesses, including frail defending against wide players and a lack of creativity in the final third — issues that have plagued them during their four consecutive trophy-less seasons. Blaming the refereeing rather than facing their own issues seems like a tough pill to swallow to Atletico fans as this latest disappointment heaps further pressure on Simeone, Europe's highest-paid manager, as he prepares for his 14th season in charge of the Madrid side. Critics and fans alike are questioning whether the Argentine's leadership can still inspire a squad that has stagnated in both domestic and European competitions. Adding to Atletico's woes is the sight of bitter rivals Real Madrid poised to advance in FIFA's revamped tournament. With an off-season of introspection ahead, Atletico face mounting challenges to rebuild and reclaim their status as contenders on all fronts.
