VAR Calls

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal: PGMOL Release VAR Transcript For Nick Pope Penalty Incident

Referee Jarred Gillett looks at a VAR screen during a penalty kick review for Newcastle United v Arsenal

Full VAR Transcript Released For Nick Pope's Challenge vs Arsenal

With pundits, fans, players, and even officials divided over the incident, it's interesting to get further insight into VAR's process. With that in mind, the full audio has been released, allowing everyone to learn what was said between officials Gillett, England, assistant VAR Steven Meredith, and the replay operator.

Gillett: "On-field decision is a penalty. Nick Pope, a trip by Nick Pope."

England: "OK, checking the on-field decision of penalty. 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. 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."

😲 Álvarez’s penalty vs Real Madrid leads to a rule change!

His attempt was ruled out for accidentally touching the ball twice, and the goal was disallowed. But now, IFAB — the body in charge of the Laws of the Game — has changed the rule:

From now on, in such cases, the penalty will be retaken, not cancelled!

⚖️ Fair decision in your opinion?

His toe got on the way to his goal.

Arsenal were THIS close to an equaliser but after a lengthy check, VAR ruled it out for offside. 🤏

BREAKING: The Premier League will introduce semi-automated offside technology on Saturday 12 April, following non-live testing in the Premier League and live operation in the FA Cup this season.

The Premier League's official Match Centre account offered an explanation for the no-penalty decision. They said in a tweet: "The referee’s call of no penalty for handball by Cucurella was checked and confirmed by VAR – with his arm deemed to be in an expected position with no clear or deliberate action towards the ball."

Premier League release new VAR statement that impacts Arsenal and the title race The Premier League has released a statement to clarify a VAR decision that impacted Arsenal's title race

VAR has the final say about the penalty ❌

Man Utd fans, take a deep breath 😮‍💨👀

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The Premier League has launched a six-point plan which it hopes will improve VAR, including using "referee's call" to try to give a better understanding of decisions to fans and players.