The VAR procedure that preserved Wout Faes’ goal in Leicester City’s 2-1 loss to Fulham last month has been commended by PGMOL chief Howard Webb.
Although the Foxes are’seeking clarity’ regarding an offside call that nearly led to victory at Craven Cottage, an explanation for one that helped them snag their first win of the 2024–25 season in their most recent match at Crystal Palace has just recently been given.
After eighteen minutes, Emile Smith-Rowe had given the home team the lead, but Faes headed in an equaliser just before halftime, suggesting that they were unable to hold onto their lead. Steve Cooper and company were not having a good time when the offside flag was raised, but after a VAR review, the goal was restored and the game moved into a pivotal second half.
Referee Darren Bond told his VAR, Jarred Gillett, at that moment in the audio from the match that has since been made public: “On-field decision is offside, Jarred.” No objective.”
“All right, so Jamie Vardy is not too far away. Gillett answered, “He doesn’t try to play the ball and isn’t in my line of sight. “I’m going to recommend an on-field review of the offside decision,” he continued. It’s an arbitrary offside. Proceed to the monitor so that we can examine the remaining portion of the APP (Attacking Possession Phase).
“No impact on the goalkeeper,” Bond concluded, and Gillett agreed, adding, “He’s not in the line of vision and doesn’t have an impact on the goalkeeper’s ability to play the ball.”
This information was made available to the public on the Match Officials Mic’d Up program, in which former England striker Michael Owen speaks with Webb, the head of the PGMOL, to get his honest opinion on recent Premier League decisions, including whether they were made correctly and what steps are being taken to ensure that similar issues don’t arise in the future.
The decision-making of Bond and Gillett was commended by Webb in this Leicester goal awarding instance.
“In this instance, the referee’s call was incorrect. Jamie Vardy suffered a penalty. That was just blatantly incorrect. And it was appropriate for the VAR to step in,” he clarified. “The offside call is actually made at the exact moment when Faes heads the ball forward, which is why it was incorrect. And Jamie Vardy has already gotten away from the goalie by then.
Sadly for Leicester, Alex Iwobi would go on to score the game-winning goal for Fulham, meaning that Faes’ goal would ultimately mean little in terms of a favourable outcome. In addition, the team is still waiting on a response to their most recent complaint regarding VAR.
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