The Premier League is back but not without controversy.
After 100 days, the top flight returned with Aston Villa vs Sheffield United. However goalline technology grabbed all the headlines, as a goal was not given despite the ball crossing the line.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher called it embarrassing and Mark Clattenburg said VAR should have intervened.
Dermot Gallagher: it has failed the referee
A camera angle behind Aston Villa’s Orjan Nyland’s goal appeared to show the whole of the ball crossed the line, when the goalkeeper attempted to catch Oliver Norwood’s free kick.
Former referee Dermot Gallagher, who is also a pundit on Sky Sports said:
“You couldn’t write it, could you?
“It is an embarrassment for Hawk-Eye, and nobody would have expected that. You just have to accept that it happened, it’s not something anybody wanted to see, we’ve just got to deal with it.
“It’s a wonderful concept, it’s normally the real deal, but on this occasion it has failed the referee and it should have been a goal.”
Clattenburg: Officials need to stop acting like robots
Euro 2016 Final Referee Mark Clattenburg was also fierce in his criticisms for officials.
“VAR should have intervened and awarded Sheffield United a goal after Hawk-Eye malfunctioned,” he told the Daily Mail.
“Officials need to stop acting like robots and take ownership because a human being has to make a final decision, although I attach no blame to referee Michael Oliver in this instance.
“Rather, if the goal-line technology has clearly failed, then VAR Paul Tierney needs to tell Oliver, ‘Stop, it was a goal’. Or at the very least they should pause and take a closer look at all the available angles – do that and you quickly realise it’s a goal.”
Find out what Keith Hackett has to say
At 3pm today, Keith Hackett will be joined by special guests Mark Halsey and Roger Dilkes for new Ref Lounge event.
A weekly Q&A will discuss the week’s top talking points and provide educational insights for current referees from elite professionals who have made it to the very top.
Hackett refereed the 1981 FA Cup Final and became the Head of the PGMOL in 2004. He is regarded as one the top 100 referees of all time according to the IFFHS.
Mark Halsey refereed in the Premier League from 1999 to 2013. In 2008 he refereed the League Cup Final between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.
Joining him is Roger Dilkes, regarded as one of the best English referees not to receive FIFA status.
A referee in the inaugural Premier League season in 1992-93, he has also refereed in FA Cup and League Cup Semi-Finals.
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