Damian Cooper

@standardsport 'explained' is stretching it

West Ham disallowed goal explained as audio released in Arsenal controversy #AFC | #WHUFC trib.al/yujKbeY

The reason the Premier League now resembles a billion-pound bar fight is because of VAR. The “high threshold” for fouls that has led to every set-piece being a melee is designed to suit VAR. VAR didn’t decide the PL title. But it now defines the league. observer.co.uk/news/sport/art…

@DaleJohnsonBBC Spent 5 minutes max on what is being called the biggest call ever by VAR with no significant challenge from @themichaelowen reading from the agreed script with PGMO. Pointless.

@DaleJohnsonBBC I love how Webb says (paraphrasing), the important thing about this show is it allows us to be transparent 😂😂😂

Howard Webb says the decision to disallow West Ham's late equaliser against Arsenal was "categorically" correct. VAR audio shows the team considered other possible fouls and showed these to the referee at the monitor. Includes full VAR transcript. 👇 bbc.co.uk/sport/football…

@DaleJohnsonBBC The audio shows they considered them @DaleJohnsonBBC but the replays they showed the ref did not show him the impactful foul by Trossard, just the end of the sequence.

@premierleague VAR "I don't like Trossard not facing the ball" replay to the Ref doesn't show his impactful foul in full, Webb for @FA_PGMOL and @SkySportsPL don't look at it or discuss it either.

Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb explains why West Ham's goal against Arsenal was ruled out for a foul on David Raya.

@justin_ohara @themichaelowen The next phase before Raya is Trossard on Pablo

@DamianCooper @themichaelowen Its looked at in phases the first being soucek as thats the first position the foul could have affected play then the raya position and so on an so forth its just that seeing so much go on it has to be dissected into individual parts and decided which was the correct phase

It was definitely a foul on Raya in yesterday’s game. However, weren’t there fouls elsewhere in the same passage? It’s becoming virtually impossible to officiate a game at corners. The authorities are going to need to consider bringing in a rule to stop this farce that has taken the shine off this season.

@chris_sutton73 Does law 12 not apply to the fouls that preceded it @chris_sutton73 ?

That’s a foul on Raya

@barneyronay Does law 12 not apply to the infringements that preceded in @barneyronay ?

Felt soft at the time. Looking back he grabbed his arm. So it’s just a foul and that’s that. No idea why shay given kept calling it “controversial“ on match of the day, other than being a bad tv analyst theguardian.com/football/2026/…

@JamieTurner1 @FromTheAnvilWHU How can the manhandling of Pablo, the player who is called for the infringement not be relevant? He is being impeded which has a direct effect on his own movement.

@FromTheAnvilWHU Yes but the law focuses on the highest priority foul which directly impacts the action, which is the one on Raya. It's not complicated.

Is Pablo not being held there? Or am I blind? And no, we won’t shut up about this.

@BBCMOTD The officiating response is, introduce a new rule. When the answer is apply the existing rule, law 12. It says everything.

Former assistant referee Darren Cann has suggested a new rule change which means no attackers are allowed in the six-yard box for corners. What do you think?🤔

@thedavidseaman @daviidraya1 You don't have to tweet David. It is not compulsory. Maybe take some time to think it through a little more next time. We don't want you tarnishing your reputation. We know you are a sound bloke really. All the very best.

Massive credit to @daviidraya1 tonight - if he had tried to punch that ball, he might not have got away it but because he had the balls and the bravery to come out to catch it, the foul was correctly given! #safehands #arswhu

@DougieCritchley Does law 12 not apply to the other incidents before it?

Just because there have been other contentious incidents at corners this season... Some involving Arsenal... It doesn't mean yesterday's wasn't a foul. Every incident has to be refereed on it's own merits. We can't be saying "Team A got away with one last week, so I won't give them this." Everyone is frustrated when there are blatant inconsistencies in refereeing, but EVERY incident has to be looked at fresh, without any bias or factoring in past history.

@justin_ohara @themichaelowen Maybe yes. I think that one is more 50/50 than the others but if that was what they decided it would applying the laws correctly if they deem it a foul.

@DamianCooper @themichaelowen Or soucek pushing havertz to the ground on the front post which occurred first, that one too yeah ?

@JanAageFjortoft Do you not think law 12 applies to the fouls that preceded it?

Correct decision at London Stadium today. It was a free kick. The reasons why it’s still discussed: - why did it takes so long to make a clear and obvious decision - if you need so much time it’s not clear and obvious - other teams, like West Ham, will be annoyed that suddenly now at the end of the season holding will be punished - and today the West Ham players and staff were furious because they mean “Arsenal gets away with it all the time”

@OllieHolt22 Does law 12 not apply to the fouls that preceded the foul on Raya?

It was a foul on David Raya. VAR made the correct decision. VAR is a terrible way to decide a game of this magnitude for both teams. All these things can be true at the same time.

Have a look at Law 12. Pablo is being manhandled and having his shirt pulled by two different players before contact with Raya. There are other fouls too before. Do you think these are not fouls according to the law @henrywinter @philmcnulty ?

@GONZObignose I can't find Geo's account, can you tag him in. Rumours on Soucek today unsettling the squad. I'm already infuriated by the summer. We don't need to sell if directors invest. As soon as we get wind of selling any big players we should coordinate a protest.

@andygraham66 @OfficialFPL @FFScout @FFH_HQ @FPLrep0rts @FPLHenners @fplsebv @FPL_TomHadley @Legomane_FPL Ah yes thanks, total is correct - cheers

@DamianCooper @OfficialFPL @FFScout @FFH_HQ @FPLrep0rts @FPLHenners @fplsebv @FPL_TomHadley @Legomane_FPL Although it shows 10, total up your 11 players, it will add up correctly. Will also show 20 on the web page

#fpl #fplcommunity should your captain not show double his points. I have Bruno F capt showing 8pts which he is on for non captain @OfficialFPL @FFScout @FFH_HQ @FPLrep0rts @FPLHenners @fplsebv @FPL_TomHadley @Legomane_FPL