Referees’ Performances | 2024/2025

[Paladin]

while i agree with you on that point surely they could tell that TWO spurs players had handled it so if they dont give the goal it has to be a penalty?

As another poster said, accidental handball by an attacker leading to a goal automatically results in the goal being ruled out. Accidental handball by a defender is not automatically a penalty. Dems da rools, unfortunately. Not saying I agree with the decision by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[Gordyola]

I don’t like it on principle but I’ve got no issue with VAR tonight. I do with the referee though.

The VAR sat there watching conclusive evidence that the only handball was by the defender and therefore he should have advised the ref to check the video evidence by going to the monitor he would then have corrected his clear and obvious error and awarded City a goal

 

[meltonblue]

The VAR sat there watching conclusive evidence that the only handball was by the defender and therefore he should have advised the ref to check the video evidence by going to the monitor he would then have corrected his clear and obvious error and awarded City a goal

VAR had inconclusive evidence though. If they’d had conclusive evidence it definitely didn’t touch his arm then it would have been allowed.

 

[crystal_mais]

Ref was weak last night. As someone else mentioned he was influenced at times by players. I still can't get my head round how that fat linesman blew for offside when Doku was put through, it looked very close and they usually let them play on. Not a single replay was shown after to see how far offside or not

 

[normskih]

Yeah the ref disallowed the goal. On the VAR clip it shows ‘CHECKING DISALLOWED GOAL’ at the top.

So VAR has to find clear+obvious evidence that there was no handball, which there wasn’t any.

It’s the ref’s fault, how’s he seen that’s a hand ball from where he was?

I’ve just looked at the disallowed goal again on the highlights, the referee lost his footing and is shaping his body to try to get a clear view of the situation in the box. The question is, did he get a proper view of the ‘handball’ or is he guessing because Haaland is already celebrating his goal well away from the area before the ref decides to make some indication that he’s disallowed the goal. You can’t hear a whistle, the camera angle switches and you can see McAtee’s face notice the ref.

 

[give it to gordon]

The only handball i see is from the spuds defender

 

[BringBackSwales]

It was only spurs shitness in front of goal that stopped this fuck up costing us 2 points

 

[meltonblue]

I’ve just looked at the disallowed goal again on the highlights, the referee lost his footing and is shaping his body to try to get a clear view of the situation in the box. The question is, did he get a proper view of the ‘handball’ or is he guessing because Haaland is already celebrating his goal well away from the area before the ref decides to make some indication that he’s disallowed the goal. You can’t hear a whistle, the camera angle switches and you can see McAtee’s face notice the ref.

You could hear it on the live game and also the Spurs fans response to it. A few seconds later, Mcatee realises.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

Why didn't Var ask him to view it again on the screen ?

Because that's not what VAR's job is.

The ref makes a decision. In this case, he disallowed it (presumably for handball).
VAR looks for any an obvious errors.
If VAR thinks that there's no conclusive footage after several minutes (as TNT reports VAR said), VAR's opinion is that there isn't an obvious error and no reason to suggest an off-pitch review.

Even if it had, there would have been several more minutes of the ref watching a screen and quite probably coming to the same conclusion.

 

[skillman]

Since the ref had already blown for handball why would they?

Football players don’t wait for the ref to make a decision to start complaining or not. Plus the fact it took him a few seconds to actually blow. And a second or two between it apparently hitting Haaland’s hand and him tucking it away bottom corner.

Yet not once did the opposition ask for a handball.

More an added observation to the already baffling decision (how can he be adamant - which is what he needs to be to make the decision - that it’s hit his arm when there’s bodies in front of him?)

 

[pride in battle]

Because that's not what VAR's job is.

The ref makes a decision. In this case, he disallowed it (presumably for handball).
VAR looks for any an obvious errors.
If VAR thinks that there's no conclusive footage after several minutes (as TNT reports VAR said), VAR's opinion is that there isn't an obvious error and no reason to suggest an off-pitch review.

Even if it had, there would have been several more minutes of the ref watching a screen and quite probably coming to the same conclusion.

It WAS an obvious error so VAR should have made him look at it again

 

[Blueknows]

It WAS an obvious error so VAR should have made him look at it again

And also told him 2 spurs players handled it prior.....goal stands or pen should have been the correct call

 

[Gordyola]

Yeah the ref disallowed the goal. On the VAR clip it shows ‘CHECKING DISALLOWED GOAL’ at the top.

So VAR has to find clear+obvious evidence that there was no handball, which there wasn’t any.

It’s the ref’s fault, how’s he seen that’s a hand ball from where he was?

Haaland didn't handball isn't that "clear and obvious"

 

[Since 76]

I watched the highlights on motd (I know I shouldn't) and I'm sure they added a whistle sound effect after the goal. It was so clear and sounded unnatural.

 

[willipp]

It WAS an obvious error so VAR should have made him look at it again

People just like to be argumentative. Nothing on the VAR replays suggested Haaland handballed it. That's why it took fucking 5 minutes for VAR to check it. If at any point VAR thought he'd handballed they'd of instantly said to go with the refs decision. The fact they couldn't find ANY suggestion Haaland handballed, shows they should of overturned it or at least sent him to the monitor. Maybe the ref though it was Haalands arm that it hit when it hit two Spurs players arms when he originally blew.

Its a fuck up plain and simple.

 

[willipp]

Yeah the ref disallowed the goal. On the VAR clip it shows ‘CHECKING DISALLOWED GOAL’ at the top.

So VAR has to find clear+obvious evidence that there was no handball, which there wasn’t any.

It’s the ref’s fault, how’s he seen that’s a hand ball from where he was?

Well it did hit two arms, just so happened neither of them were Haalands. That alone is justification to send him to the monitor.

 

[Blue Mist]

I despise VAR. Not sure why it’s to blame for tonight though, the ref ruled it out.

Because their was utter confusion. No one in the ground knew why it was taking 4 minutes. What offence did they think was being checked ?
If there was no Var the ref would have signalled no goal and play would have restarted.
If the referee told var why he had ruled out the goal why did it take 4 minutes to decide there was nothing to decide?
The referee was wrong to guess and it nearly cost us 2 points but Var is to blame for the 4 minute farce.

 

[Gordyola]

If that’s what the VAR clip showed then it shows they’re just guessing. Surely it should have said ‘checking potential handball’

Great point

After a goal has been disallowed the stadium screens will show what the decision is

Goal Disallowed Handball Haaland

Anyone see this?

 

[Gordyola]

VAR had inconclusive evidence though. If they’d had conclusive evidence it definitely didn’t touch his arm then it would have been allowed.

Have you watched the video it was clear that Erling didn't commit and handball offense absolutely conclusive

 

[Moss Side's Finest]

Have you watched the video it was clear that Erling didn't commit and handball offense absolutely conclusive

As much as I'd like to agree with you, there was a very very short period of time where none of the camera angles could see if there was/wasn't air between the ball and Haaland's arm (logic would suggest it can't have touched his arm but there was no visual proof). The more annoying thing though is that during that same period of time, the ball definitely did touch defenders arms, which I would argue weren't in 'natural' positions, and that's the most frustrating nonsense with VAR.