adminLONDON. – The Premier League returned on Saturday with its usual cocktail of drama, excitement and controversy – with refereeing decisions and VAR once again a big talking point.
Following his side’s 1-3 defeat by Arsenal, Tottenham boss Antonio Conte suggested refereeing and VAR in England is not at the required level, having seen his player Emerson Royal sent off for a second-half foul on Gabriel Martinelli.
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish questioned the point of VAR, while Fulham boss Marco Silva fumed at what he called “strange decisions”.
“In England, I have to be honest, it is very difficult because there isn’t the same line,” said Conte.
“Sometimes you see a situation that could be a red card and instead is a yellow card or no yellow card, sometimes you see a situation that is a yellow card and you see a red card.”
Here, BBC Sport takes a look at the decisions which created most debate.
Conte unhappy with Emerson red card
Conte was infuriated by the decision to send Emerson off in the 62nd minute with Arsenal leading 2-1.
“They have to work a lot about this,” said the Italian while discussing the standard of refereeing in England.
“In Italy, they go on Thursday and stay together for three days to work together, to look at the video and try and improve.
“I don’t know if they do that in this country, but it would be a good idea because the level is so high and we need the level of the referee and VAR the same.
“The Premier League is a really high level, and for this reason every part of this situation has to be top.”
At Selhurst Park, Conor Gallagher scored a brilliant late winner to give Graham Potter his first victory as Chelsea boss – but Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira was left vexed by a key decision in the first half.
Vieira felt Chelsea defender Thiago Silva should have been sent off after the Brazilian deliberately knocked the ball out of Jordan Ayew’s path with his hand.
“I just find it unbelievable how he managed to stay on the field,” Vieira said of Silva, who went on to tee up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for Chelsea’s equaliser.
During the game, Palace chairman Parish expressed his frustration at the decision.
Another manager to be left unhappy by a key decision in his game was Fulham’s Silva, who watched his side play the majority of the 4-1 defeat by Newcastle with 10 men after Nathaniel Chalobah’s eighth-minute red card.
Referee Darren England initially showed Chalobah a yellow for his challenge on Sean Longstaff, but upgraded his decision to a red after VAR intervention, prompting Silva to call for consistency.” – BBC Sport
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter