The Premier League has confirmed Andy Madley’s officiating role for the upcoming weekend, following his controversial involvement in West Ham’s 4-1 defeat to Tottenham.
Madley, who oversaw the London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, found himself at the centre of a heated debate after sending off West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus.
Kudus Appeals and Madley’s Decision:
During the second half, Kudus led appeals for a penalty after his shot appeared to strike the arm of Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie. However, Madley opted not to award a spot-kick, ruling that Udogie’s arm was tucked into his body, a decision supported by VAR.
Moments later, a confrontation between players from both sides escalated, resulting in yellow cards for Kudus and Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven.
However, replays revealed Kudus raising his hand toward both Van de Ven and Pape Matar Sarr. After consulting with VAR official Chris Kavanagh, Madley reviewed the footage on the pitch-side monitor and upgraded Kudus’ yellow card to a red.
Former Referee Dermot Gallagher Backs VAR’s Role:
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher defended Madley’s decision to change the booking, explaining how VAR correctly intervened.
“I think it’s a red card,” Gallagher said.
“He [Madley] loses sight of what’s going on—he’s trying to intervene as a peacemaker, but he gets caught in the middle and misses the incident. VAR stepped in and identified the right offence.”
Gallagher further explained, “Madley was watching something else and missed the key moment, but VAR picked up not only the initial incident but also a later altercation. The referee was focused on a different angle, and VAR did its job in flagging the right action.”
Madley’s New Assignment
Despite the controversy, the Premier League has confirmed that Madley will take charge of Aston Villa’s home match against Bournemouth this weekend.
Meanwhile, Chris Kavanagh, the VAR official involved in the Kudus decision, has been assigned to oversee VAR for Tottenham’s upcoming fixture against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The handling of the Kudus incident will undoubtedly remain a talking point, especially with Madley and Kavanagh both entrusted with key officiating roles this weekend.
For the Premier League, the focus will be on ensuring smooth officiating amid heightened scrutiny following the fallout from last weekend’s decisions.