{"id":1101344,"date":"2019-08-13T15:02:33","date_gmt":"2019-08-13T14:02:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1101344"},"modified":"2019-08-13T15:02:33","modified_gmt":"2019-08-13T14:02:33","slug":"var-opening-weekend-premier-league-reaction","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/var-opening-weekend-premier-league-reaction\/","title":{"rendered":"Every VAR call from the opening weekend of the Premier League season &#8211; and how football reacted"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>In any usual season, the first round of Premier League games can conjure its fair share of drama. Introduce VAR into the proceedings, however, and previous opening weekends suddenly look like dull affairs.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After a controversy-free curtain raiser between Liverpool and Norwich at Anfield on Friday night, VAR reared its head across the country on Saturday and Sunday as referees were in constant communication with Stockley Park.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"background-color: transparent; display: block; padding: 0; max-width: 700px;\" title=\"Audioboom player\" src=\"https:\/\/embeds.audioboom.com\/posts\/7336082-10-predictions-for-the-2019-20-premier-league-season\/embed\/v4\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>A number of incidents were checked by the video assistant referees with five of the 10 matches producing talking points, both contentious and clear-cut.<\/p>\n<p>So we&#8217;ve delved into the major VAR calls from the opening weekend and had a look at how the football world reacted.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>West Ham United 0-5 Manchester City<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Marginally offside Sterling thwarts Jesus goal<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>After putting Man City 2-0 up at West Ham, Raheem Sterling became the first player to fall foul of VAR in the Premier League. The England international made what looked like a perfectly-timed run in-behind the hosts&#8217; backline and squared the ball to Jesus for City&#8217;s third goal of the afternoon.<\/p>\n<p>But Stockley Park quickly got involved and ruled that Sterling was centimetres offside. The decision is evening more painful in hindsight following new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetimes.co.uk\/article\/var-offside-decisions-under-review-8v8bdhmz7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reports<\/a> suggesting VAR&#8217;s approach to offsides will be reviewed in the coming months, the idea being that players shouldn&#8217;t be penalised for being a small fraction offside.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">bro why is this VAR ting so mad at meee ?? still happy with the three goals &amp; moreover with a great victory to start the new season&#8230; Let the race begin ?? <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ManCity?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@ManCity<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/P02J5K7A1K\">pic.twitter.com\/P02J5K7A1K<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Raheem Sterling (@sterling7) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sterling7\/status\/1160204999034572802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>On Twitter after the game, Sterling jokingly questioned what VAR has against him. The Englishman had previously seen what would have been a tie-winner in last season&#8217;s Champions League quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur ruled out by VAR.<\/p>\n<p>But speaking to reporters, the lethal 24-year-old nobly admitted that correct decisions are all that matter.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It\u2019s a bit difficult during the game because you want the goal to stand,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2019\/08\/10\/raheem-sterling-wants-know-var-despite-man-city-smashing-west-ham-5-0-10550831\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">he said<\/a>. &#8220;But at the end of the day, as long as the decision is right, that\u2019s all that matters.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>There was plenty more debate on Twitter, however, with onlookers questioning whether the incident should have been reviewed in the first place and pointing out inconsistencies in opposing arguments.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">VAR rules that Sterling&#39;s prolific goalscoring armpit was offside<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Sam Wallace (@SamWallaceTel) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SamWallaceTel\/status\/1160170015456411648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">1mm is neither clear nor obvious <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WHUMCI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#WHUMCI<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/VAR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#VAR<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mrdanwalker\/status\/1160171640787001345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Offside by 1mm \u201cnot having this VAR!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Goal-line tech denies a goal by 1mm \u201cbrilliant tech this&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Jake Humphrey (@mrjakehumphrey) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mrjakehumphrey\/status\/1160174949870571521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I\u2019m pro VAR by the way. Always have been, but this \u2018you\u2019re either offside or you\u2019re not\u2019 argument will be fine once we have the technology to prove it&#8230;and it will come: guess it will need some sort of in-ball technology to determine exact moment of contact.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GaryLineker\/status\/1160190262020378624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Sterling redeems himself despite another review<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Sterling later redeemed himself with two more goals, the second of which \u2013 a wonderful lob over Lukasz\u00a0 Fabianski \u2013 went to VAR again, but this time it stood.<\/p>\n<p>West Ham manager and former City boss Manuel Pellegrini was content with the VAR decisions at the London Stadium, especially when football is played at a faster pace than ever with players like Sterling constantly looking to break the offside trap.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/news\/pep-guardiola-sends-var-warning-18890410\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pellegrini said<\/a>: \u201cIt is not easy to get used to it, but I think the result will be fairer if we use it in the right moments.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Football is so fast today it is impossible for referees to see all. It will improve football.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If it is for an important mistake, then maybe. If you are going to use it for every corner, you will find four penalties.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Aguero gets lucky with retaken penalty<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Before his third goal, Sterling was denied the chance to complete his hat-trick by Sergio Aguero, who stepped up to take a penalty after a short discussion with his eager teammate. Aguero missed the spot-kick to the delight of the West Ham fans and the frustration of Sterling, but the Argentinian was saved by VAR.<\/p>\n<p>For what, at first, looked like a violation by Fabianski, Aguero was allowed to re-take his penalty. Fabianski was indeed at fault for failing to have part of one foot on the line at the time of Aguero&#8217;s strike, but the decision was actually a result of encroachment by Declan Rice. The midfielder had stepped into the box before the penalty was taken and cleared the ball after Fabianski&#8217;s save.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Man City penalty retake explained from VAR HQ:<br \/>For Declan Rice encroachment and clearing the ball after the save.<br \/>VAR wouldn&#39;t have been used to rule on Fabianski coming off his line before penalty was taken. PL leaving that to on-field officials<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Rob Harris (@RobHarris) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RobHarris\/status\/1160179605149536257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Associated Press journalist Rob Harris cleared up the confusion by relaying VAR HQ&#8217;s confirmation of encroachment being the issue, but that didn&#8217;t stop spectators from voicing their confusion and frustration.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is a joke <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/aguerosergiokun?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@aguerosergiokun<\/a> missed but penalty given again &#8211; VAR is ruining this<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Ian Cheeseman (@IanCheeseman) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IanCheeseman\/status\/1160176901094330368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">What the hell? <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/VAR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#VAR<\/a> used for Aguero&#39;s penalty miss?? Poor, very very poor. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/premierleague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@premierleague<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MotdBBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@MotdBBC<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ManCity?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@ManCity<\/a> @WestHamUtd<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; &#8230; (@robin_grant_85) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/robin_grant_85\/status\/1160305577903501314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Burnley 3-0 Southampton<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Chris Wood tap-in ruled out by Barnes call<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Ashley Barnes&#8217; opening day didn&#8217;t get off to the best start. After squaring the ball to his strike partner Chris Wood for what should have been the opener against Southampton at Turf Moor, Barnes was ruled offside after a VAR referral. It was hardly controversial, though, as the decision turned out to be unquestionably correct.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">VAR springs into action early on at Turf Moor with Chris Wood&#39;s goal being disallowed against Southampton. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ryqdx3ziuU\">pic.twitter.com\/ryqdx3ziuU<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Play Squawka Selector for Free (@Squawka_Live) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Squawka_Live\/status\/1160195830609076224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">? A historic moment at Turf Moor as VAR is used for the first time in a Premier League game at the stadium. <\/p>\n<p>??\u200d\u2642\ufe0f But it wasn\u2019t the decision we wanted as Chris Wood\u2019s goal is ruled out. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/twitterclarets?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#twitterclarets<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/UTC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#UTC<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/P4TMSLlmOD\">pic.twitter.com\/P4TMSLlmOD<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; TurfCast &#8211; Burnley FC Fan Channel (@TurfCastPodcast) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TurfCastPodcast\/status\/1160194388594704389?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">VAR is alive in East Lancashire! Right decision as Barnes was narrowly offside. Still 0-0. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/twitterclarets?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#twitterclarets<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Jonny Bentley (@MultimediaJonny) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MultimediaJonny\/status\/1160193709562105856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Barnes went on to score the first two goals of the game, picking up where he left off last season with a well-taken double to hand Burnley three valuable early points.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Che Adams escapes punishment for risky tackle<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Making his Southampton debut, Che Adams almost made it a day to remember for all the wrong reasons. The striker put in a risky tackle on Ben Mee, catching the Burnley defender just under the knee with his studs.<\/p>\n<p>The incident went to VAR, but Adams&#8217; tackle was adjudged to have been just about acceptable and no card was given. It was a debatable call by Stockley Park; on another day, they might have deemed Adams&#8217; foot to be too high. Ultimately, though, the debutant escaped punishment, much to the bafflement of some on Twitter.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">How has Che Adams not been sent off? <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SaintsFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SaintsFC<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Kristian ??????? (@kristianoko) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/kristianoko\/status\/1160197104997941250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Che Adams very lucky. Poor challenge.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Phil Bird (@PhilBirdBFC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PhilBirdBFC\/status\/1160197346287935489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I had to sit through nearly an hour of <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GaryLineker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@GaryLineker<\/a> and co, waffle on about City and VAR, all we got about Burnley was 2 minutes on how Barnes &quot;feels like a premier league striker now&quot;.<\/p>\n<p>No mention of this disgraceful challenge by <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CheAdams_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CheAdams_<\/a> on Ben Mee <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/MOTD?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#MOTD<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/twitterclarets?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#twitterclarets<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Y7UBg9SsUv\">pic.twitter.com\/Y7UBg9SsUv<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Alex Jolly (@JollyLifts) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JollyLifts\/status\/1160319853930209280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Gudmundsson goal stands after Bertrand challenge<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Burnley&#8217;s third goal of the afternoon was scored by Johann Berg Gudmundsson, but it was almost disallowed for an alleged foul on Ryan Bertrand in the build-up. The goal stood, and after the game Burnley boss Sean Dyche spoke about the importance of playing to the whistle.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The most important thing, we mentioned to the players, is to play to the whistle, get on with it and play that moment rather than delay and wait,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lancs.live\/sport\/football\/football-news\/var-premier-league-burnley-southampton-16735758\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dyche said<\/a>. &#8220;I think what is at stake now is so important.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We have been on the wrong end of decisions, mainly with penalties, and you can only hope it is going to clear those situations up.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It is such a big thing now the Premier League that it needs as many right decisions as possible.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Would You Rather Wan-Bissaka or Harry Maguire? Manchester United Fans Quizzed w\/Sophie Rose\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ERkTe8rZLgU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Subscribe to <a href=\"http:\/\/sqwk.at\/Squawka-Sub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Squawka\u2019s Youtube channel here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Crystal Palace 0-0 Everton<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Milivojevic challenged deemed unworthy of a red card<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Everton&#8217;s Morgan Schneiderlein was the only player dismissed on the opening weekend for two yellow cards, but Crystal Palace midfielder Luka Milivojevic could also have been sent for an early bath had VAR gone against him.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, the Serbian said VAR &#8220;will be great&#8221; is used for obvious wrong decisions. He&#8217;ll certainly be happy with the technology&#8217;s introduction after Saturday.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">VAR will be one of the talking points on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BBCMOTD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@BBCMOTD<\/a> tonight&#8230;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CPFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CPFC<\/a>&#39;s Luka Milivojevic has mixed feelings about its introduction to the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/PL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#PL<\/a><\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CPFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CPFC<\/a> special podcast<br \/>? \u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/tc1BilM9Nl\">https:\/\/t.co\/tc1BilM9Nl<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xHdGEZg7rw\">pic.twitter.com\/xHdGEZg7rw<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/5liveSport\/status\/1160129158686507008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>With 10 minutes remaining in the first half at Selhurst Park, Milivojevic and Bernard challenged for a ball, with the Palace man catching his opponent on the thigh. No foul was given and VAR had decided referee Jon Moss did not make a clear and obvious error.<\/p>\n<p>Everton fans, however, were not best pleased with the decision to let Milivojevic off the hook, believing his challenge on Bernard was worthy of a red card.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Milivojevic should of had about 6 yellows this game and hes the one who get schniderlin sent off. banterous<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; FizzyKeks (@Fizzy_EFC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Fizzy_EFC\/status\/1160213474506694656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/Andy_H_EFC\/status\/1160205232133103617<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Watford 0-3 Brighton<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Glenn Murray let off the hook despite use of arm<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Graham Potter got off to the perfect start as Brighton manager, but it could have been very different had an early VAR call gone the other way at Vicarage Road.<\/p>\n<p>A Roberto Pereyra free-kick appeared to strike the arm of Glenn Murray, and the Watford players were convinced they should have been awarded the penalty. It went to VAR, but the referee&#8217;s decision stood. Watford&#8217;s appeals were waved away and Brighton went on to win 3-0 comfortably.<\/p>\n<p>The handball rule continues to cause more confusion than any other law in football, primarily because it seems to differ from competition to competition. Inevitably, Twitter had plenty of questions as to why Watford were not given a spot-kick.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/SocaWho\/status\/1160387281523367936<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">i&#39;m going to need a lesson in the new handball rules because that looks like Murray has made his body bigger with his arm and prevented a goal scoring opportunity<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Ronny &amp; Ramage Uncut (@RonnyandRamage) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RonnyandRamage\/status\/1160210050893434892?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">That Glenn Murray\/Watford handball VAR decision&#8230; is an obvious penalty, right?<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AdamCrafton_\/status\/1160516673805438976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 11, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Just seen the Murray handball. I\u2019d be angry about it if I could be bothered to pretend we didn\u2019t deserve to lose 3-0.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Jake (@_jakehorwood) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_jakehorwood\/status\/1160236396281565185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Leicester 0-0 Wolves<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Boly handball rules out Dendoncker&#8217;s deadlock breaker<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Perhaps the most controversial VAR call of the weekend was the decision to rule out Leander Dendoncker&#8217;s goal for Wolves against Leicester because of a Willy Boly handball. The contact was clearly unintentional but goals will now be disallowed regardless of intent if the ball strikes a hand.<\/p>\n<p>But critics still believe that&#8217;s unfair. The ball deflected onto the hand of Boly, who had no way of avoiding contact before Dendoncker found the net. The match ended goalless.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Wolves will feel aggrieved by the goal ruled out by accidental handball by Boly as the ball dropped to Dendoncker who lashed home. But the officials were correct. Even entirely accidental handball is now not allowed if it leads to a chance\/goal. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/wwfc?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#wwfc<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/lcfc?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#lcfc<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Jacqui Oatley (@JacquiOatley) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JacquiOatley\/status\/1160566036644716546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 11, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The issue with handball in penalty area is that will be looked at differently for attacking and defending team. Wouldn\u2019t be hand ball if hit defenders arm like it hit Boly<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Danny Higginbotham (@Higginbotham05) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Higginbotham05\/status\/1160676155894194176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 11, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">What a nonsense that is, by the way! The ball hits Boly&#39;s arm from point-blank range and apparently, that&#39;s intentional. Rubbish. Utter rubbish. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/wwfc?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#wwfc<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Joe Edwards (@JoeEdwards43) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JoeEdwards43\/status\/1160554816961204224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 11, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>What&#8217;s more, Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo was not happy with the amount of time it took for a decision to be made on whether the goal would stand. Indeed, just about every perceived problem with VAR was at play in the incident at the King Power.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/football\/585960\/var-wolves-nuno-espirito-santo-draw-leicester\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Espirito Santo said<\/a>: \u201cI didn\u2019t see the images yet, but I\u2019m concerned about the tempo.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m concerned about the two minutes we celebrate, then we wait and then the Leicester fans celebrate a non-goal \u2013 this is not the spirit of the game.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI must see the images. I trust VAR but I think it\u2019s good for the referees to have dialogue, to explain what they saw and judge for the people and for the players who are involved to understand.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith their mix of feelings, under stress and competition to settle down and play again \u2013 it\u2019s an issue and it\u2019s going to be an issue until everything is clear.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs it a handball? Six months ago that was a goal. These are the questions everybody is going to have, it\u2019s causing discussions and we\u2019re talking it now. We didn\u2019t speak about this before.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><script>(function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(d.getElementById(id))return;js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src='https:\/\/embed.playbuzz.com\/sdk.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}(document,'script','playbuzz-sdk'));<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"playbuzz\" data-id=\"66c974de-b77b-4864-9922-f0029ea5359e\" data-show-info=\"false\" data-show-share=\"false\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In any usual season, the first round of Premier League games can conjure its fair share of drama. Introduce VAR into the proceedings, however, and previous opening weekends suddenly look like dull affairs. 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