Mike Dean said VAR would not have had the perfect camera angle to rule out Lewis Dunk’s goal at Everton.
The former top-flight referee and video assistant told Sky Sports viewers he suspected there might have been an offside as Dunk volleyed home via the underside of the crossbar but did not appear sure.
Significantly, he also spoke about camera angles available at ageing Goodison Park.
It certainly appeared the Seagulls may well have been hard done by – with images shown in the media area and later on Match Of The Day casting significant doubt over whether Dunk was offside as Pascal Gross delivered a free-kick in his direction
After a VAR check of around two minutes, the goal was cancelled out by Michael Oliver at Stockley Park.
He was faced with a forensic judgement between positions of James Tarkowski and Dunk, who were several yards apart.
Dean confirmed that Oliver and assistant VAR Nick Hopton would not have had the perfect angle for a judgement.
Told that the camera position did not look ideal, Dean said: “Best angle you are going to get! That’s all you’ve got at Everton.
“There are only certain camera angles at certain grounds.”
Initially it looked like Dunk would be ruled onside – as Everton players put the ball on the centre spot and prepared to restart after a goal.
There are surely only so many apologies Howard Webb can dish out. He’s starting to sound like Simon Cooper when he was throttled after Jay Cartwright had slandered a few bus users.
PGMOL’s chief refereeing officer was keen to make a strong impression at the start of the 2023/24 season, but the Premier League’s officials have quickly dashed Webb’s initial hopes. The poor bloke was forced to explain a number of dubious decisions during the first month of action while Michael Owen monotonously queried the 2010 World Cup final referee.
Much of the controversy across the 2023/24 campaign has surrounded the video assistant referee (VAR). Brought in as a means of making life easier for the on-field officials, the complication of rules and apparent incompetence by those in charge of the technology means it simply hasn’t brought about the greater precision many expected and desired.
Aston Villa seemed to be the side hampered by the distant hands of VAR the most this season as for a while they could have been a place or two higher up.
While each contest would’ve played out differently, Villa were theoretically denied a goal that could have won three games they actually drew. Away to Bournemouth and Everton, Villa’s travelling kit appeared on the wrong side of the virtual offside lines, seeing ‘goals’ for Diego Carlos and Alex Moreno chalked off. Leon Bailey also had a strike disallowed after VAR spotted a foul on Sheffield United goalkeeper Wes Foderingham. Unsurprisingly, after that 1-1 draw with the division’s basement dwellers, Unai Emery claimed there was “too much VAR” involved.
Things have evened out slightly and they would only have one point more without VAR than they do right now.
Here’s how the Premier League table would look without VAR:
