Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has shared his views on the VAR controversy during Crystal Palace's goalless draw against Newcastle United.
The Magpies felt they had broken the deadlock against the Eagles in Saturday’s Premier League clash at St James’ Park after Tyrick Mitchell turned the ball into his own net in the second-half.
However, a collision between Joe Willock and Vicente Guaita led to VAR official Lee Mason calling on-field referee Michael Salisbury over to the monitor. The goal was disallowed, much to the annoyance of Newcastle, who felt Willock was pushed in the back by Mitchell before the collision with the Palace goalkeeper.
READ MORE: Alan Shearer provides verdict on 'abysmal' VAR decision in Newcastle vs Palace
The decision sparked an uproar. Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer delivered a scathing verdict on VAR on BBC programme Match of the Day, describing the call to disallow the goal as “disgraceful”.
It was a weekend to forget for VAR officials after a decision to disallow West Ham’s goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge also came under fierce criticism. After being asked by the Premier League to investigate both incidents, the officiating board PGMOL acknowledged that the decisions to disallow the Newcastle and West Ham goals were mistakes.
Speaking on Sky Sports News’ Ref Watch, Gallagher said: “I think when the VAR has looked at it, that is what he has focused on, [Joe] Willock going into [Vicente] Guaita. Without a doubt, if you take that in isolation, that’s a foul. No doubt about that, goalkeeper is coming to clear the ball, it’s a foul.
“I think he’s focused on that, so he’s thought foul. What he hasn’t done is focus on the whole outcome. If he had looked here [Mitchell’s arm on Willock], that’s where the foul occurs.
“It hits Mitchell and goes into the net. It raises all kinds of issues because referees are all about options and I think the best referees don’t close their options. He [Salisbury] has three options there for me. He can either give a goal, which I think is very, very risky because the ball isn’t in the net when Willock collides with the goalkeeper. So I think you can’t do that.
“[Salisbury] can either give a penalty, which I think it is because I think it is a foul [on Willock] on safe ground. Or, he can take the option he did, which I think is the worst option. But I think that option was arisen at because he was driven down a very narrow path of viewing that incident rather than the whole scene.”
Post-match, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe believed his side should have been awarded a penalty for a foul on Willock by Mitchell. Gallagher agreed with the Magpies boss, adding: “It’s difficult to say play on because Willock has crashed into the goalkeeper.
“He has [crashed into him because of a push], and that’s my point. If you ignore one [Mitchell’s push on Willock], which they did, you can’t ignore the second [Willock's collision with Guaita], because the second would be a foul without the push. So because the ball wasn’t in the net, I think you have to give a penalty.”
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