Understanding VAR Decisions in Premier League Controversies

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has ignited debates in the Premier League each week, prompting questions about the decision-making process and the accuracy of those decisions.

This season, we will analyze key incidents to elucidate the VAR protocol and its alignment with the Laws of the Game.

Andy Davies, a former Select Group referee with over 12 years of experience officiating in the Premier League and Championship, provides valuable insights into the rationale and protocols governing VAR on matchdays.

**Referee:** Anthony Taylor
**VAR:** Michael Salisbury
**Time:** 90+11 minutes
**Incident:** A mass confrontation involving 20 players.

During the climactic moments of Saturday’s intense London derby between Chelsea and West Ham, a mass confrontation underscored the advantages of VAR. With nearly 20 players entangled in a chaotic melee following a last-minute 3-2 victory for Chelsea, the challenge for the on-field officials lay in identifying all offenders amidst the tumult.

The situation escalated in the 11th minute of stoppage time, shortly after Enzo Fernández scored. West Ham’s Adama Traoré threw Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella to the ground, leading to a clash with João Pedro, who intervened to defend his teammate. As the conflict escalated, several players joined in, resulting in cautions for Traoré and Pedro. However, a VAR review resulted in West Ham defender Jean-Clair Todibo being sent off for violently placing his hands around Pedro’s throat.

The VAR review process is thorough; however, it can only intervene when a violent act is missed by on-field officials. Referee Anthony Taylor would have briefed his team prior to the match, outlining the expected procedures for such incidents. Yet, each situation is unique, and with three groups of players involved in altercations, it required significant effort from Taylor and his team to manage the events and determine appropriate disciplinary actions.

The VAR and assistant VAR follow a structured process, beginning with identifying key players and their actions from the live feed. Meanwhile, the replay operator (RO) gathers all available angles for the VAR to assess once the situation stabilizes and the on-field officials have dealt with immediate violations.

The VAR has direct access to live communication with on-field officials, allowing them to evaluate each action identified by Taylor, confirming whether it constituted violent conduct or merely aggressive behavior. Once the VAR affirms the on-field sanctions—such as the yellow cards issued to Traoré and Pedro—the RO presents alternative angles that may reveal additional offenses.

In this instance, a reverse angle showcased Todibo engaging in a violent act against Pedro, which clearly warranted a red card. This evidence was flagged by VAR Salisbury and prepared for presentation to the referee during the on-field review (OFR).

Upon reviewing the footage, Taylor swiftly recognized Todibo’s actions as unequivocally warranting a red card for violent conduct, leading to his immediate dismissal.

**Verdict:** This incident exemplifies a successful application of VAR, complementing the decisions made by Taylor and his team. The refereeing crew continually aims to identify instigators for yellow cards while also monitoring for any additional acts of violent conduct that may necessitate red cards. In this particular case, while Traoré and Pedro were cautioned for initiating the confrontation, Todibo’s actions crossed the line, validating the decisions rendered.