Premier League: Was Chelsea’s penalty kick against Crystal Palace a VAR error?

It’s been a strange weekend for referee Darren England.

Farai Hallam, in charge of his first Premier League match, on Saturday rejected England’s advice on using the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and did not award Manchester City a penalty for handball.

On Sunday, England’s role was reversed in Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace. This time the referee was sent to the pitch-side monitor to make a decision on a potential penalty kick for handball.

Palace defender Jayde Canfoot blocked Joao Pedro’s shot with his arm, which was in a natural position next to him.

England watched the replay on screen for almost two minutes, and BBC Sport understands it took a lot of convincing.

The VAR was Matt Donohue, who has officiated just four Premier League matches but works at Stockley Park most weekends.

Donohue insisted it should have been a penalty kick because his arm blocked the goal. Eventually, England agreed and awarded the penalty.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) previously explained that in this type of scenario, it is not considered an automatic penalty kick.

On its Football Rules website, externalit begs the question: “The player prevents the ball from entering his goal with his hand/arm but does not intentionally catch the ball or make his body unnaturally larger?”

The answer is: “This is not a handball.”

There is a lot of confusion surrounding the law change in 2024. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has amended the wording for the offense of denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity (which the board also refers to by the acronym Dogso).

The law now states: “When a player denies the opposing team a goal or a clear goal-scoring opportunity by committing an unintentional handball offense and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned.”

Here’s the main point. It must be a “crime” – in other words making the body unnaturally larger.

It has been incorrectly interpreted that all handballs that stop a goal are a penalty kick and a yellow card. The change in the law was only from a red card to a yellow card.

First, it should be a handball violation, then consider the advantages of Dogeso.

The update has been made to bring handball fouls in line with foul challenges and double jeopardy.

So an actual attempt to play the ball or an unintentional handball where the body is enlarged is a warning.