The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system consistently generates controversy each week across major football competitions, including the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup, frequently leading to public scrutiny regarding decision-making processes and their accuracy. To clarify how these decisions are reached and evaluated against established rules, significant incidents are routinely reviewed, focusing on both VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game. Providing an expert perspective is Andy Davies, a former Select Group referee with over a decade of elite experience in the Premier League and Championship. Having operated within the VAR space in the Premier League, Davies offers unique insights into the specific processes, rationale, and protocols implemented during a matchday.

A notable incident that exemplifies this scrutiny occurred in the 88th minute of a match between Sunderland and Manchester United, officiated by referee Stuart Attwell with Peter Bankes as the VAR. The play involved Sunderland's Nilson Angulo and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes. Angulo made a late challenge that appeared to catch Fernandes in the face with his forearm. Despite Fernandes' clear anger and desire for a strong disciplinary action, referee Attwell did not issue any on-field sanction.

Upon review, the VAR team analyzed the incident for a possible red card due to violent conduct. Ultimately, the VAR concluded that Angulo's challenge did not meet the specific criteria for a red card offense. Consequently, Attwell's on-field decision, or rather the lack thereof, was confirmed as correct by the VAR system, indicating no clear and obvious error.

According to expert analysis, Angulo's action was characterized as a "reckless arm" rather than an act of "violent conduct." For such an act to be classified as violent conduct warranting a red card, referees and VAR officials typically look for an arm used with a high level of force, a distinct swinging motion resulting in contact, or contact that clearly meets the definition of violent or brutal play. In this particular instance, while Angulo's use of his arm was undeniably reckless, the contact with Fernandes was deemed negligible, failing to cross the threshold for violent conduct. However, the expert expressed surprise that referee Attwell did not identify the reckless nature of Angulo's action on the field, asserting that a yellow card was certainly warranted for the play and should have been issued by the on-field official.