Football’s interminable video assistant refereeing debate has its latest chapter following a bizarre evening, and refereeing performance, at Villa Park. With the FA Cup not allowing the video protocol until the fifth round, here was an occasion to make the abolitionists think twice. Is elite football already too far gone to referee without a bank of screens in a faraway business park? Or was Chris Kavanagh, the referee, and his assistants, just having a nightmare day at the office?
Sandro Tonali’s two goals, and Nick Woltemade’s clincher booked Newcastle’s fifth round place, completing a comeback that came in the face of officiating mistakes weighing against Eddie Howe’s team. Eventually, they prevailed over an Aston Villa team who lost discipline, and should have been down to ten men earlier than they eventually were.
Continue reading…Football’s interminable video assistant refereeing debate has its latest chapter following a bizarre evening, and refereeing performance, at Villa Park. With the FA Cup not allowing the video protocol until the fifth round, here was an occasion to make the abolitionists think twice. Is elite football already too far gone to referee without a bank of screens in a faraway business park? Or was Chris Kavanagh, the referee, and his assistants, just having a nightmare day at the office?Sandro Tonali’s two goals, and Nick Woltemade’s clincher booked Newcastle’s fifth round place, completing a comeback that came in the face of officiating mistakes weighing against Eddie Howe’s team. Eventually, they prevailed over an Aston Villa team who lost discipline, and should have been down to ten men earlier than they eventually were. Continue reading…
