Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot would have received a red card after VAR in Europe

The decision taken in Chelsea’s match against Tottenham last April, under Pawson, is worthy of comparison.

Pape Matar Sarr won the ball from Moises Caicedo before stepping forward to score.

But Sarr fouled Caicedo, making clear contact with his studs around the Chelsea midfielder’s knee.

Jared Gillett, VAR, sent Pawson into the screen to disallow the goal. Pawson considered the merits of the red card but Gillett insisted the challenge was merely reckless and a yellow card.

Gillett was keen to show the challenge at the real speed of determining the punishment. Like Pawson on Saturday, Gillett said the contact was fleeting.

In both cases there was a buckling of the opponent’s knee to indicate a degree of strength. Dalot had a straight leg, an indication of greater strength.

In a Mic’d Up show to match officials afterwards, PGMO coach Howard Webb backed the yellow card.

“It was wrong to send him off, because it wasn’t excessive force, it was reckless contact, so he got a yellow card,” Webb said.

The PGMO would likely say Dalot’s decision appears to be consistent – especially since the same referee was involved in both incidents.

There was no real controversy over Sarr’s punishment, and there was no call for a red card.

Perhaps it was because there was a VAR review of the goal disallowance, and that the referee watched the incident again and made his own decision. The KMI board did not register the yellow card as an error.

Referee comments on VAR are important. If Taylor sees the pins touch the knee and makes his own judgment on that side, it is difficult for the video referee to intervene.

It is still possible for the VAR to tell the referee that he misjudged the force in the challenge. But if the referee provides a good description, this limits the scope of the review.

Judges are looking for a long-term connection. So, as with Dalot and Sarr, if a full boot touches the leg but quickly comes off, it is a peek.

Compare it to the red card Curtis Jones received in September 2023. It’s a decision that still angers Liverpool fans.

Jones made contact with Yves Bissouma’s leg and lunged at his leg as he slid forward to try and play the ball.

The PGMO will say that this was not present in Dalot’s challenge, so it was a “sneak peek”.

This is a tough one and most people seem to accept this as a red card for VAR.