Communication Calamity - VAR Audio Revealed

The incident between Arsenal and West Ham is being classed as one of the biggest VAR calls in Premier League football since its introduction. The decision ultimately has launched Arsenal into a title-winning position, whilst also being a blunder to West Ham, who are fighting for survival, and despite their best efforts, it was ruled out in the cruelst way possible.

West Ham, the day after the misery, immediately requested the audio files to be released from VAR that day, where the revelation of an unfathomable amount of incompetence was revealed.

As it was ‘clear and obvious’, the VAR decision only lasted a short four minutes and 11 seconds.

Here’s the rundown: initially, VAR see a ‘foul’ on David Raya. At first, they weren’t bothered, but after four replays and three angles, they determined it was a foul.

Other aspects of concern occurred, the VAR officials started to review both other fouls, but in doing so, they only focused on both Trossard and Declan Rice, not Pablo’s shirt being grabbed.

Assistant VAR, Akil Howson, said, “I don’t like Trossard not facing the ball”, which was followed by “What are we saying about Declan Rice behind?”

Lead VAR, Darren England, then responded, “Yeah. He still gets a hand to the ball, doesn’t he? When he’s getting to the ball.”

The next line was recommending referee, Chris Kavanagh, to review the incident on the pitch, despite the fact they’d agreed Raya had still got a hand, and both Rice’s rugby tackle and Trossard’s brilliant ‘screen’ block were points of concern… yet the opinion swiftly changed seconds later.

Upon looking at the monitor, despite being told everything in his ear for the previous four minutes, Kavanagh goes up to the screen and says “I don’t know what you’re trying to show me, give me a clue.” - This is followed by showing a horrific angle of the foul on Pablo before Kavanagh instantly dismissed the incident saying “I don’t think there’s much in that at all, I’m happy with that.”

The grabbing of Mavropanos by Declan Rice wasn’t checked, as it was after the foul on Raya.

Poor angles, poor communication and lacklustre awareness, the Premier League official, after watching numerous replays, needs a ‘clue’ to see what is going on…? Comical officiating!

There are two significant talking points from the VAR perspective: was there enough to even consider sending the referee to the monitor in the first place? Both officials agreed that Raya had got a hand to the ball and that Pablo hadn’t impeded, so why was the on-field decision not adhered to?

Furthermore, VAR change their tune three times across the four-minute ordeal, which certainly doesn’t scream clear and obvious as the rule book states. The VAR initially believed it was the correct decision to give a goal, yet changed their tune after four minutes and 17 replays!

Whilst the result is said and done, corruption claims have been ramped up again.

Former Hammers manager Sam Allardyce was furious with the decision being overturned, calling it a scandalous call.

"There's so much pulling, shoving and pushing that never gets given, so to give this one in such a big game - irrespective of how you look back at it - is a scandal.

"The game has become a war in the penalty box - it's become rugby, not football. It's just all nonsense."

West Ham fans’ rage ultimately will wind up to nothing, but the outcome of the situation shouldn’t be ignored; it is rather unfortunate that it had to be West Ham to fall victim to another poor mistake, of which there have been many at the London Stadium for both sets of teams.

Whilst all is said and done, none will be forgotten.