As we know, the commentators can hear the VAR discussions but not the audio from the on-field officials. Given this there were two very strange things tonight, firstly the commentator said that VAR (Michael Salisbury) had told Stuart Attwell to hold a restart as there were training cones on or near to the touchline. Sure enough Attwell then went to remove them, but given they were on the touchline of AR2 (Natalie Aspinall) I'm baffled as to how VAR had to get involved. Not long after the commentator said that VAR had told Attwell that Cole Palmer had moved the ball at a ceremonial free kick, he had, but again this was right in front of AR2, and as is normal referees ask the active AR to monitor free kick ball placement as they mark the wall out, it shouldn't need VAR to tell them.
This comes off the back of what I heard in the Wolves vs Villa game, where the commentator said that VAR (Matt Donohue) had asked the referee to hold the restart as they were worried a sub had come on without anyone going off (they hadn't, the replaced player was sitting in the benches out of view). Somewhat ironic given the situation in the Netherlands around the same time. I don't understand how VAR are having these discussions with referees, they don't fall under any of the 4 allowable VAR interventions, so feels like we might be slipping back to VAR in England playing by their own rules.
Somewhat ironically tonight, when VAR did need to get involved they ruled that they couldn't. Jared Bowen was absolutely taken out before Chelsea's equalising goal, a very clear foul, but VAR ruled they couldn't get involved as it wasn't in the attacking phase of play. Not entirely sure I agree with that as they immediately broke and scored, but felt like VAR was helping the referee during play rather than doing what the protocol allows them to and then when it came to a big decision they ducked it.
This comes off the back of what I heard in the Wolves vs Villa game, where the commentator said that VAR (Matt Donohue) had asked the referee to hold the restart as they were worried a sub had come on without anyone going off (they hadn't, the replaced player was sitting in the benches out of view). Somewhat ironic given the situation in the Netherlands around the same time. I don't understand how VAR are having these discussions with referees, they don't fall under any of the 4 allowable VAR interventions, so feels like we might be slipping back to VAR in England playing by their own rules.
Somewhat ironically tonight, when VAR did need to get involved they ruled that they couldn't. Jared Bowen was absolutely taken out before Chelsea's equalising goal, a very clear foul, but VAR ruled they couldn't get involved as it wasn't in the attacking phase of play. Not entirely sure I agree with that as they immediately broke and scored, but felt like VAR was helping the referee during play rather than doing what the protocol allows them to and then when it came to a big decision they ducked it.