Joao Pedro’s ‘controversial’ penalty for Brighton against Arsenal analyzed: ‘What is VAR doing?’ | Football news
Sky Sports News pundits Jay Bothroyd and Clinton Morrison questioned how VAR failed to spot William Saliba’s touch on the ball in the controversial penalty incident that denied Brighton victory at Arsenal.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said “I’ve never seen a decision like this in my career” after Arsenal’s title challenge was dealt a blow with a debatable penalty award in the 1-1 draw at Brighton.
With Arsenal leading 1-0 after Ethan Nwaneri opened the first, Joao Pedro went down after clashing with Saliba as they both battled for the ball.
Referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot and VAR agreed with the call as there was “enough contact” from the Arsenal defender, despite certain angles clearly showing Saliba touched the ball just before he tackled Pedro.
Speaking further Sky Sports NewsBoothroyd and Morrison were baffled by VAR’s failure to overturn a decision on the pitch due to a defender touching the ball.
“It wasn’t a penalty,” Boothroyd said.
“Initially, when I first saw it in full rhythm and from the first two corners, I thought it was a penalty. However, it’s the third replay from the second corner where you see Saliba touch the ball with his head.
“When he touches the ball with his head, it’s not a penalty.”
He added: “Joao Pedro went down like he’d been hit in the face with a bat, but in the end, Saliba has the ball.
“It’s not a penalty because there’s contact with the ball. It’s just a bad decision.
“The only thing I would look at is that the ball landed where Pedro wants to run, the referee looked at it and thought it was a penalty, but when you look at all the angles we are privileged to see, it is not a penalty.”
‘What does VAR do?’
Morrison agreed and questioned the involvement of Paul Tierney and Dan Cook, who were on VAR duty at Stockley Park for the game at the Amex Stadium.
“I don’t blame the referee, I blame VAR,” Morrison said.
“What is VAR doing up there?
“This is the first time I have seen the incident, but after three replays I can clearly see the ball being touched by the defender.
“From the referee’s angle, I would say a penalty. But after looking at it two or three times, it’s just not a penalty.”
He added: “Send it to the monitor.
“I don’t care if Anthony Taylor is one of the best referees in the world. Send him to the screen.
“Sometimes it seems as if VAR is worried about sending the best referees in front of the monitor and over-voting him.
“But everyone can make mistakes. That’s what VAR is there for. It’s there to help.”
‘The decision could prove crucial to Arsenal’s title hopes’
Pedro’s successful spot-kick meant Arsenal are now five points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool with two games in hand, and Boothroyd insists more time should have been taken to make such a crucial decision in the game and potentially clinch the title.
“With VAR, sometimes they take ages with an offside decision that I know is immediately offside,” Boothroyd said.
“Then you see events like this where it’s something that they should take their time and look at properly. Obviously, I think they got this wrong.
“It’s the kind of dropped points that will cost Arsenal.
“When you look at the whole game, towards the end Arsenal held on.
“Brighton played really well in the second half. Let’s give them a lot of credit. Fabian Hurzeler made some really good changes that came in and affected the game.
“But ultimately, the penalty prevented Arsenal from getting the result they should have.”
