Sport nation‘The process was correct’ – PGMOL release VAR audio of Anthony Gordon’s controversial goal against Arsenal
Phil Spencer
The PGMOL have released the audio for Anthony Gordon’s controversial winner against Arsenal.
The Newcastle star’s goal was allowed to stand in the 1-0 victory over the Gunners after three separate VAR checks to assess its legality.
The VAR audio surrounding Gordon’s goal for Newcastle has been released by the PGMOL
GETTY
5
The VAR audio surrounding Gordon’s goal for Newcastle has been released by the PGMOL
These were to see if the ball had gone out, if a foul had been committed by Joelinton on Gabriel, or whether there was an offside against Gordon.
Referee Stuart Attwell awarded the goal after three separate VAR checks by Andy Madley at Stockley Park, while the Premier League’s Independent Key Match Incidents Panel also voted in approval of the decision.
The audio from the discussion between Attwell and Madley has since been released, showing how all three decisions were made.
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The clip shows the initial pass forward first being cleared by the VAR, before the first point of contention being the ball going out of play.
The first point of contention was a possible out of play which was cleared due to the curvature of the ball
SKY
5
The first point of contention was a possible out of play which was cleared due to the curvature of the ball
The potential foul was dismissed by Madley who felt Gabriel flew forward
SKY
5
The potential foul was dismissed by Madley who felt Gabriel flew forward
After requesting the help of goal line technology, which wasn’t available, Madley and his assistant agree there is ‘no conclusive evidence’ the ball went out of play.
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Things then moved onto Joelinton’s challenge on Gabriel which needed to be checked for a potential foul, with Madley saying: “I don’t see a specific foul on Gabriel.
“I see two hands on his back but I don’t see anything of a push that warrants him flying forward like that.”
Things get even more complicated for the third and final check on Gordon being onside, with assistants ‘struggling to find a point of contact’ when the ball comes off of Joelinton, and then admitting ‘I don’t know where the ball is’ with it caught between two players.
It was hard to find the ball for the offside, so again the on-field decision wasn’t overturned
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5
It was hard to find the ball for the offside, so again the on-field decision wasn’t overturned
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Webb gave his backing to the process
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Webb gave his backing to the process
With the ball obscured there is again ‘no conclusive evidence’ that Gordon is ahead of the ball and offside, meaning all three checks were cleared and the on-field decision of goal stood.
Discussing the decision in Sky, PGMOL head Howard Webb said: “It was an unusual situation with three aspects needing to be checked.”
Echoing that there was ‘no clear evidence’ to overturn all three decisions, the former referee concluded: “The process was correct.”
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Gunners boss Mikel Arteta branded English football’s officiating an embarrassing disgrace and claimed he was ashamed to be part of it following Newcastle’s controversial winner at St James’ Park.
It was backed up by an official Arsenal statement the following day.
Some have questioned the extremity of Arteta’s rant but the Spaniard doubled down when asked about it, saying: “It is my duty to stand in front of the cameras and give an honest assessment of what happened in the game.
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“This is what I did: reflect very openly how I felt the team played, and how the game was conditioned by the decisions that were made.
“It is my duty. My duty is to defend my players, support my players, defend my club and defend my people in the best possible way.
“This is what I’m going to do time after time. I do it not the way I feel, with the evidence, as clear as possible.
“When we play brilliantly, I need to say that. When we have lost, I take my responsibility. It’s the way I am and I have to defend my club.”
‘The process was correct’ – PGMOL release VAR audio of Anthony Gordon’s controversial goal against Arsenal
Phil Spencer
The PGMOL have released the audio for Anthony Gordon’s controversial winner against Arsenal.
The Newcastle star’s goal was allowed to stand in the 1-0 victory over the Gunners after three separate VAR checks to assess its legality.
The VAR audio surrounding Gordon’s goal for Newcastle has been released by the PGMOL
GETTY
5
The VAR audio surrounding Gordon’s goal for Newcastle has been released by the PGMOL
These were to see if the ball had gone out, if a foul had been committed by Joelinton on Gabriel, or whether there was an offside against Gordon.
Referee Stuart Attwell awarded the goal after three separate VAR checks by Andy Madley at Stockley Park, while the Premier League’s Independent Key Match Incidents Panel also voted in approval of the decision.
The audio from the discussion between Attwell and Madley has since been released, showing how all three decisions were made.
Advertisement
The clip shows the initial pass forward first being cleared by the VAR, before the first point of contention being the ball going out of play.
The first point of contention was a possible out of play which was cleared due to the curvature of the ball
SKY
5
The first point of contention was a possible out of play which was cleared due to the curvature of the ball
The potential foul was dismissed by Madley who felt Gabriel flew forward
SKY
5
The potential foul was dismissed by Madley who felt Gabriel flew forward
After requesting the help of goal line technology, which wasn’t available, Madley and his assistant agree there is ‘no conclusive evidence’ the ball went out of play.
Advertisement
Things then moved onto Joelinton’s challenge on Gabriel which needed to be checked for a potential foul, with Madley saying: “I don’t see a specific foul on Gabriel.
“I see two hands on his back but I don’t see anything of a push that warrants him flying forward like that.”
Things get even more complicated for the third and final check on Gordon being onside, with assistants ‘struggling to find a point of contact’ when the ball comes off of Joelinton, and then admitting ‘I don’t know where the ball is’ with it caught between two players.
It was hard to find the ball for the offside, so again the on-field decision wasn’t overturned
SKY
5
It was hard to find the ball for the offside, so again the on-field decision wasn’t overturned
Advertisement
Webb gave his backing to the process
SKY
5
Webb gave his backing to the process
With the ball obscured there is again ‘no conclusive evidence’ that Gordon is ahead of the ball and offside, meaning all three checks were cleared and the on-field decision of goal stood.
Discussing the decision in Sky, PGMOL head Howard Webb said: “It was an unusual situation with three aspects needing to be checked.”
Echoing that there was ‘no clear evidence’ to overturn all three decisions, the former referee concluded: “The process was correct.”
Advertisement
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta branded English football’s officiating an embarrassing disgrace and claimed he was ashamed to be part of it following Newcastle’s controversial winner at St James’ Park.
It was backed up by an official Arsenal statement the following day.
Some have questioned the extremity of Arteta’s rant but the Spaniard doubled down when asked about it, saying: “It is my duty to stand in front of the cameras and give an honest assessment of what happened in the game.
Advertisement
“This is what I did: reflect very openly how I felt the team played, and how the game was conditioned by the decisions that were made.
“It is my duty. My duty is to defend my players, support my players, defend my club and defend my people in the best possible way.
“This is what I’m going to do time after time. I do it not the way I feel, with the evidence, as clear as possible.
“When we play brilliantly, I need to say that. When we have lost, I take my responsibility. It’s the way I am and I have to defend my club.”
Sport nation
Amina Umar