Video Assistant Referee causes controversy every week in the Premier League. But how are decisions made and are they correct?
After each weekend we take a look at the major incidents, to examine and explain the process both in terms of VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game.
In this week's VAR Review: Why Everton's overturned penalty against Manchester United is not as straightforward as you might think. Plus, a possible penalty for Aston Villa against Chelsea and red cards for Myles Lewis-Skelly and Illia Zabarnyi.
Everton 2-2 Man United
Possible penalty overturn: Challenge by Maguire on Young
What happened: Three minutes into stoppage time, a shot by Idrissa Gueye was saved by André Onana. As Ashley Young moved toward the rebound, he went down and appealed for a penalty. Referee Andy Madley pointed to the spot for a foul by Harry Maguire, which was checked by the VAR, Matt Donohue.
VAR decision: Penalty canceled.
VAR review: It was the big controversy of the weekend, with Manchester United rescued from almost certain defeat as the VAR stepped in to cancel a penalty to Everton.
Did the referee really make a clear and obvious error, or did the VAR overstep?
The answer lies within the context of the on-field decision, and once you know the process it makes much more sense.
It has to be separated into two parts -- and that's what's not immediately apparent.
