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A leaked VAR transcript shows officials spent several minutes debating before disallowing West Ham’s late equaliser against Arsenal for a foul on David Raya.
THE complete transcript of the conversation that ruled out West Ham’s equaliser against Arsenal has been revealed.
Callum Wilson looked to have scored a massive goal that simultaneously pushed the Irons a huge point closer to Premier League safety and dented the Gunners’ title hopes.
However, following a FIVE-MINUTE VAR review, the goal was ruled out for a foul by Pablo on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
The decision sparked massive debate among fans and pundits alike, while many once again took aim the officials who made the decision.
But on the latest episode of Mic’d Up, the full conversation held between those who officiated the game has now been publicly revealed.
SunSport has transcribed the complete conversation between referee Chris Kavanagh, assistant referee one Dan Cook, assistant referee two Ian Hussin, fourth official James Bell, VAR Darren England and VAR Assistant Akil Howson.
You can read it in full below:
REF Chris Kavanagh: On-field decision is goal.
VAR: Checking the on-field decision of goal. OK, let’s play it through, let’s play it through. Let’s just get a feel now. So, the keeper there… Then it’s just a shot. So, it’s literally just a possible foul on Raya, what I’m seeing in terms of that.
AVAR: Yeah, and to make sure he doesn’t have it in his hand.
VAR: OK, let’s get a tighter angle on the goalkeeper please. On the Arsenal goalkeeper.
Replay Operator: Yeah.
VAR: This one. Slow it down, frame by frame. For me, there is a foul. Potential foul with the arm. His hand is holding his arm down. That’s impactful, for me. The left arm there, is holding, is across the body. He’s across the head and he’s holding the left arm of Raya, there. Which impedes his ability to get to the ball properly. Doesn’t look that impactful from that angle.
Replay Operator: I’ve got a pole cam angle.
VAR: Give us pole cam.
AVAR: It’s like, Raya… Because that contact we’ve got there, we’ve got…
VAR: Just keep delaying. Just checking possible foul on the goalkeeper.
AVAR: You’ve got that straight behind him as well, look.
VAR: Yeah.
VAR: Yes please. Is it impactful on the goalkeeper that, for me. Go back to the second angle you showed me, the second angle.
Replay Operator: No problem, just going to look now.
AVAR: Can you do a split screen on both of them as well?
VAR: This one here, this one. Yeah, give us a split screen. That one and then the first angle.
Replay Operator: OK, goal line?
VAR: No, sorry, this one and this one, thank you.
AVAR: I don’t like Trossard not facing the ball and you’ve got… I agree, it’s impactful, it’s just everything else that’s going on as well. Let’s say we’re saying that’s a foul, then what are we saying about Trossard’s actions on the same player? What are we saying about Declan Rice behind?
VAR: Yeah. He still gets a hand to the ball, doesn’t he? When he’s getting to the ball.
FORMER Premier League referee and SunSport columnist Mark Halsey had his say on the VAR drama at the end of Arsenal’s win over West Ham.
Callum Wilson’s 95th-minute equaliser was ruled out after a lengthy VAR check – two minutes and 35 seconds – because of a foul by Pablo on David Raya.
Chris Kavanagh made the call which could have major ramifications at both ends of the table.
Halsey said: “Well, what an ending we witnessed at the London Stadium. London derby, West Ham fighting for their lives, Arsenal trying to secure the Premier League for the first time in many, many years.
“We’ve had a massive problem this season – and inconsistencies – from the officials when we’re seeing holding and grappling offences in the penalty area.
“Something has to happen, we’ve got to stop this.
“We all know in those situations when a goal is scored that it will be checked as per the protocol.
“Now in this instance, West Ham have thrown the kitchen sink, they’re trying to get an equaliser, and when that ball comes across from the corner, everything’s going on in that penalty area. There’s about ten, 11, 12 fouls.
“But you look at it and you penalise the ones that stick out. When you look at it, you can clearly see that Pablo has impeded David Raya. You can clearly see that.
“Not only that, you can see that Jean-Clair Todibo has got hold of Raya’s shirt so he’s pulling it down.
“It’s very difficult for Chris Kavanagh in real time to see that, but that’s what VAR’s there for.
“There was massive, massive pressure on Chris Kavanagh once he’s been called over to the monitor, recommended a review by Darren England.
“In my opinion, they came to the correct decision. There were two fouls in there.
“The pressure on Darren and the pressure on Chris was there for everybody to see.
“It was a massive, massive decision to make with what was at stake.
“So in my opinion, they’ve come to the right decision.
“But for me, the PGMOL and their officials, we’ve got to clamp down harder on all this grappling.”
AVAR: What’s your initial opinion as you watched it?
VAR: I think, for me, we send him for an on-field review to look at the possible foul on the goalkeeper. And then we get him to look at the other incidents as well. I think that’s the best decision in terms of this. OK.
(Addressing Kavanagh) Chris, I’m going to recommend an on-field review for a possible foul on the goalkeeper but there are some other incidents to look at while you’re at the monitor as well.
REF: OK.
VAR: So, I’m going to show you a possible foul on the goalkeeper.
Replay Operator: This angle?
REF: OK.
VAR: The left arm of Pablo comes across Raya and holds onto the left arm of Raya as he goes to win the ball.
REF: Yeah.
VAR: I’m showing you that now.
REF: I can see the clear holding on him across.
VAR: Yeah, but then I’m just going to show you some, obviously, other angles on that incident, of players.
REF: OK.
AVAR: You’ve got Declan Rice and you’ve got Trossard.
REF: I don’t know what you’re trying to show me, give me a clue.
VAR: Trossard on Pablo. Just if you look at Trossard on Pablo. Give me a better angle on that.
MIC’D UP: Howard Webb gives verdict on ref decision
REFS chief Howard Webb backed the decision to rule out West Ham’s “equaliser” against Arsenal – and said officials were following instructions to the letter.
Hammers chiefs are still seething after Callum Wilson’s strike was chalked off for a foul by Pablo on David Raya.
But as the full communications between ref Chris Kavanagh and the VAR team at Stockley Park were broadcast on the latest edition of the “Mic’d Up” review show, Webb was insistent the Hammers’ moans were unjustified.
You can read his full argument here.
VAR: I’ll get you a better angle.
REF: I don’t think there’s much in that at all, I’m happy with that.
VAR: Yeah, OK.
REF: That’s nothing.
VAR: And then if you just want to consider the actions of Declan Rice on Mavropanos at the back. But the foul happens on the goalkeeper before.
REF: Before it, so… After review, West Ham number…
VAR: 19.
REF: 19. Foul. Just confirm his number again for me.
VAR: 19.
VAR: Yeah, confirmed.
REF: Mic open.
REF: After review, West Ham number 19 commits a foul on the goalkeeper. Final decision is direct free kick.
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