The Premier League have released behind-the-scenes audio of the controversial decision to overturn Arsenal’s penalty against Newcastle on Sunday afternoon
The Premier League has unveiled behind-the-scenes audio of the contentious decision to reverse Arsenal’s penalty against Newcastle. During the first half of Sunday’s match, which saw the Gunners clinch a 2-1 victory due to a late header from Gabriel Magalhaes, Viktor Gyokeres took a tumble after a collision with Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope, prompting on-field referee Jarred Gillett to award a penalty.
However, video assistant referee Darren England, stationed at the PGMOL’s headquarters at Stockley Park, suggested that Gillett reconsider his initial ruling. Gillett then consulted the pitch-side monitor and rescinded his decision to grant Arsenal a penalty, much to the chagrin of Mikel Arteta.
Both Arteta and Gunners skipper Bukayo Saka voiced their disapproval of the decision post-match, as Newcastle secured a 1-0 lead shortly following Gillett’s ruling.
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Despite this setback, Arsenal managed to rally and secure three points, but the incident remained a significant topic of discussion.
The matter was addressed in the latest episode of Match Officials Mic’d Up featuring Howard Webb. As the Chief Refereeing Officer for the PGMOL and a former Premier League referee, Webb provides fans with an insight into how decisions are made, particularly those that generate the most buzz.
Here’s a transcript of what was said in the 14th minute of Sunday’s match:
Gillett: “On-field decision is a penalty. Nick Pope, a trip by Nick Pope.”
England: “OK, checking the on-field decision of penalty.”
England: “Got a better angle?”
Replay Operator: “Yeah, I’ve got a better angle from behind here.”
England: “Does he get a touch on the ball, the goalkeeper? I think he gets a touch on the ball. Nick Pope gets a touch on the ball here.”
Assistant VAR (Steven Meredith): “Yes, he does, yeah.”
England: “Does he? One more time. He actually gets a touch on the ball, doesn’t he?”
Meredith: “Yeah, there’s a secondary touch.”
England: “Give me another angle, please. Just make sure that Pope touches the ball, please.”
Replay Operator: “I’ve got an SSM (Super-Slow Motion), but it’s from the other side.”
England: “He does touch the ball, doesn’t he? Touches the ball first, then there’s contact afterwards. Therefore, that’s not a penalty kick. He touches the ball there.”
Replay Operator: “This is the best angle.”
Meredith: “Have you got the behind view?”
Replay Operator: “Yeah, this is the best angle I’ve got.”
England: “He does, doesn’t he? He touches. OK, let’s just check the APP (Attacking Possession Phase) as it goes over as well.”
Meredith: “It’s definitely played by a defender. But check it anyway.”
England: “Jarred, I’m going to recommend an on-field review for possible no penalty. Let me know when you’ve got the monitor. I am going to check APP as well. Nick Pope gets a touch on the ball.”
Replay Operator: “I’ll go slowly so you can check the APP.”
England: “Yeah, yeah. It’s his defender, a clear defender, isn’t it? It’s always clear defender, that’s fine. The APP has been checked, the APP is clear as well. I’m going to show you the tight angle first with the ball being touched by Nick Pope. Any contact that happens thereafter, after the contact has been made.”
England: “Nick Pope gets a touch with his right foot, I’ll give you another angle on the touch.”
Gillett: “Show me a better angle to see that he touches the ball.”
England: “I will do, I’ll show you a better angle.”
Replay Operator: “Do you want the SSM from the other side?”
England: “Yeah, yeah, yeah, super slow. Super slow, coming in now. Gets a touch on the ball there. And then just plants his foot in a normal action.”
Gillett: “The attacker plays the ball first. I don’t know if the goalkeeper actually plays the ball.”
England: “The attacker plays the ball. Yeah, the attacker plays the ball, and the goalkeeper plays the ball then with his right foot, there.”
Gillett: “Just play it at full speed, please.”
England: “Any contact there, any contact after that is normal contact, because the goalkeeper just plays his foot.”
Gillett: “Can you play it at full speed?”
England: “Playing at normal speed for you.”
Gillett: “So I’m seeing the goalkeeper get a toe to the ball first, prior to making contact.”
England: “Agree.”
Gillett: “So after a review, the goalkeeper plays the ball, there’s no foul. Final decision, we drop ball.”
England: “Confirmed.”
Webb agreed with the officials’ decision, saying: “The referee hadn’t recognised that touch, that was important, the VAR saw it and deemed it was a clear error. I agree with the VAR’s intervention, so the referee can go to the screen, look at the full sequence, see that touch, see that there was a normal playing action by Pope and the penalty was rightly cancelled.”
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