Controversial Decisions in Tottenham vs. Brentford Match

Brentford manager Keith Andrews expressed his frustration following the 0-0 draw against Tottenham on New Year's Day, particularly regarding Cristian Romero's failure to receive a red card.

Andrews firmly believed that Romero should have been sent off for his challenge on Igor Thiago, who was through on goal when brought down by the Tottenham defender.

Remarkably, Romero was not penalized with either a free-kick or a card for the incident.

In his post-match press conference, Andrews described the situation as "a blatant red card," arguing that "Thiago was prevented from reaching the ball." Romero's attempt to intercept a pass resulted in him colliding with Thiago, leading to the contentious moment.

During the match, the video assistant referee (VAR), Alex Chilowicz, had to determine whether the foul constituted a clear and obvious error and if it denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO).

The VAR's intervention requires both a foul and a red card to be established, not merely the foul itself.

Romero's left leg obstructed Thiago, halting the Brentford player's progress, raising questions about why the on-field officials did not call the foul.

From the officials' viewpoint, it may have appeared that Romero successfully hooked the ball, as he ended up in possession. However, this was more a result of momentum than a clean challenge.

In evaluating DOGSO, referees are instructed to envision the scenario without the defender at the time of the foul. Thiago had the ball ahead of him, with no other defenders nearby, and the incident occurred just outside the penalty area. It is likely that Thiago would have collected the ball, advanced, and taken a shot.

Despite Romero gaining possession, the perception created doubts about whether Thiago would have maintained control, which may have influenced the VAR's decision.

While the ball did make contact with Romero's arm, it was deemed accidental and not a handball.

This incident could have marked Romero's third red card in under a month. Andrews was particularly annoyed by the lack of action when the two teams faced off on December 6, where Romero similarly challenged Thiago.

That challenge, described by Andrews as a "very easy one" for officials to call, resulted in a 3-2 vote by the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel in favor of a red card for Romero. However, the VAR, Tim Wood, received a 4-1 vote supporting his decision not to intervene.

Romero was later sent off for two yellow cards against Liverpool on December 20.

Penalty Controversy for Ekitike Against Leeds

The debate continues regarding whether Hugo Ekitike should have been awarded a penalty during the 0-0 draw against Leeds. On one hand, critics argue that players often go to ground too easily to earn decisions, while others believe that failing to fall may lead to missed fouls.

Ekitike found himself in a challenging position against Leeds defender Jaka Bijol, who had his arms around the Liverpool striker. However, Ekitike remained on his feet in an attempt to shoot but was ultimately crowded out.

"It's not surprising that one of my players stayed on their feet," said Liverpool manager Arne Slot. "It's just who we are as a team, and unfortunately, that's not always recognized. The question is whether we should change our approach; I don't think we should. If he had gone down, it likely would have resulted in a red card and a penalty, increasing our chances of winning."

Bijol avoided a VAR review as he was not holding Ekitike in a conventional manner, such as by tugging his shirt or dragging him back.

In this case, VAR Darren England had to assess the impact of the challenge, which is inherently more complex if a player does not go down. Consequently, players who remain upright are often less likely to receive favorable decisions.

If Ekitike had fallen, demonstrating he was impacted, it could have resulted in a penalty and a red card for DOGSO.

Controversial Decisions in Tottenham vs. Brentford Match

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