Almost every match of the past week has been defined by controversial officiating, with examples of bad calls leading to on-field discontent and outrage from managers. Notable incidents included a goal awarded to Murillo and a disallowed goal for Van Dijk during a crucial clash against Manchester City. As evidenced by the conversation around each of these calls, there is a lack of consistent standards and officiating at the very least.
The weekend’s matches saw various teams grappling with the implications of referee Peter Bankes’ decisions. Yet while Murillo’s goal remained allowed, Van Dijk’s was disallowed, leaving Liverpool on the receiving end of an unjust decision. Players and media talking heads alike are regurgitating their outrage at this year’s high level of officiating irregularities. They’re particularly interested in events that tangibly affect the results of games.
Inconsistent Officiating Draws Criticism
Perhaps the most hotly contested of those was on Italy’s keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, his goalkeeping lambasted online and in the mainstream press. Jay Bothroyd on BBC Radio 5 Live: On Donnarumma, he needs to be stronger, Barnes is putting his body into him, and there are so many players in the box, in the six-yard box, contact is going to happen. This statement shows how deep the tide is turning in the belief that goalkeepers need to be more aggressive in traffic.
Beyond that, Bankes was faced with tough decisions to make in-game. Earlier in the match, the former MLS player instructed second-half sub Zian Flemming to leave the box first. Only then would he be allowed into the penalty box. This call, as it turns out, is a prime example of the grey area that so many believe exists too far in the realm of officiating.
Bothroyd continued to expand on this. I said, ‘Oh I’m considering the offside.’ Because to the naked eye, it looked like an offside. When they put the lines down, Dias did look like he was jumping, but in all actuality, he was on the ground. These kinds of judgment inconsistencies have triggered further examination of the current refereeing standards across high-level football.
Goals and Disallowed Decisions Spark Controversy
The divergent rulings on goals have led to confusion among clubs about the basis for officiating decisions. Burnley players adamantly insist that Robert Sanchez played the goal kick. People will complain about Trevoh Chalobah just having his hand on the ball. That moment lit a fire in the ongoing argument over how these types of decisions can completely change the results of matches.
The next controversial point of the match came just after the hour mark, when Ebere Eze doubled Arsenal’s lead. Yet, Leandro Trossard and Martin Zubimendi were both considered offside, interfering with the line of sight of the goalkeeper. Bothroyd remarked, “That’s probably the worst decision. They are directly in the keeper’s eyeline. When I looked at that one, right off the bat I told them that was going to be offside.
Incidents like these have raised doubts over VAR’s ability to improve the game. Does it improve the understanding of decisions made on the pitch, or does it simply confuse things further?
The Need for Greater Clarity in Guidelines
As conversations around VAR and officiating persist, all football stakeholders—including players, coaches and fans—are demanding more transparency for what constitutes a challenge and offside position. Dermot pointed out the complexities around certain calls: “They said no penalty because in the guidelines if the challenge is reckless it’s a yellow card. After it’s become a yellow card they must issue a penalty.
Each of this week’s two awarded goals sparked immediate and passionate debates. This inconsistency is what frustrates players and fans alike the most. Each match continues to show the greyness in officiating. This raises grave concerns about how important decisions are being made and carried out.
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