Aston Villa caught in ‘Amazing’ VAR controversy v Brighton
Keith Hackett insists that it was “amazing” that Aston Villa were somehow awarded a penalty in the draw against Brighton on Monday.
Joao Pedro was adjudged by VAR to have fouled Morgan Rogers after catching him in the act of a clearance, with Ollie Watkins scoring in the 2-2 draw on 30 December.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, the ex-PGMOL chief admitted it was the easy way out and will likely be defended by a spokesperson soon enough.
“It is amazing how VAR can intervene on an incident judged in the first place to be a natural act by the defender to clear the ball and in doing so accidentally catches his opponent,” he said.
“It is not a clear and obvious error by referee Craig Pawson. Sadly VAR Stuart Attwell decides to intervene.
“Instead of looking at this incident and stating that it is an accident Pawson like many other referees follows the usual pathway of the easy option to point to the penalty mark and if criticised can blame Attwell.
VAR controversy in Aston Villa draw?
“VAR should be more accurate, VAR officials need to stop re-refereeing the game and turning natural actions by a player to clear the ball out of defence into a crime.
“It is poor officiating that will be defended by the PGMOL spokesperson.”
There is real confusion about what a clear and obvious error is now in the Premier League.
Looking at the footage, it is clear that Pedro catches Rogers, which would have drawn no complaints if Craig Pawson had given it initially.
Unai Emery will have been happy to see Watkins back on the scoresheet though, with Jhon Duran suspended for the next two games.
In other Aston Villa news, Stan Collymore made a “desperate” Unai Emery admission during the Brighton draw.
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