Match Officials Micd Up: what the new TV show tells us about referees
The Guardian The first episode of Match Officials Micd Up certainly wasnt short of talking points. From Michael Owens typically wooden presenting skills to Howard Webbs admission that Nathan Aks header for Manchester City against Fulham on Saturday should have been disallowed, the monthly 26-minute show produced by the Premier League that will be aired on Sky Sports and TNT Sports on Wednesday evening breaks new ground for the sport.
But while Webb the chief refereeing officer at Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) offers viewers an insight into some of the more controversial VAR decisions so far this season, it is the audio feed from Stockley Park that provides most of the entertainment.
1. VARs can overthink decisions
No way! Its like collisions, we dont give those. Perhaps it was Simon Hoopers insistence that Manchester United goalkeeper Andr Onana hadnt just clattered into the Wolves striker Sasa Kalajdzic that caused all the confusion for the VAR Michael Salisbury in one of the highest-profile gaffes seen so far. I think because the Wolves player doesnt head the ball its a normal collision as they have both challenged for the ball, was his verdict. Unfortunately for the officials, Webb and everyone else didnt agree over a decision that ultimately cost Wolves dearly in their 1-0 defeat. He starts to go down the road towards recommending a video review but he sort of overthinks it a bit. Sometimes VARs can do that.
