The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system continues to be a focal point of debate and controversy in major football leagues such as the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup. To demystify the decision-making process and assess the correctness of these calls, former Select Group referee Andy Davies provides expert insight into VAR protocols and the Laws of the Game. With over 12 seasons at the elite level and experience operating within the VAR space in the Premier League, Davies offers a unique perspective on the rationale and procedures followed on a matchday.

A recent incident in the Arsenal versus Newcastle United match, officiated by referee Sam Barrott with Jarred Gillett as VAR, highlighted the complexities of VAR application. In the 74th minute, Arsenal attacker Viktor Gyökeres was left beyond the last defender after a ball played over the top of the Newcastle defence. As Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope left his area to chase the loose ball, he slipped, panicked, and then illegally held Gyökeres, preventing the Arsenal striker from retrieving the ball. Referee Barrott initially issued a yellow card, judging that the offence did not constitute the denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO).

The VAR system subsequently checked the referee's on-field decision. VAR Jarred Gillett confirmed the yellow card, concluding that Pope did not deny an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. This determination was primarily based on the close proximity of a Newcastle defender, who, in VAR's assessment, had a possibility to claim possession of the ball. The on-field decision serves as the foundation for all VAR checks, and intervention only occurs when replays clearly demonstrate a significant error in this process. Gillett was confident in Barrott's interpretation, agreeing that the incident's circumstances did not meet the criteria for a red card.

According to Law 12, several criteria must be carefully considered in a potential DOGSO situation: the distance between the offence and the goal, the general direction of the play, the likelihood of the attacker keeping or gaining control of the ball, and the location and number of defending players. In this specific case, despite the rashness of Nick Pope's actions, the direction and angle of play, the distance from the goal, and the inherent doubt regarding Gyökeres's ability to gain control of the ball, especially when accounting for the covering defenders, collectively indicated that the stringent criteria for a red card were not met. This made it a relatively straightforward decision for the referee and VAR.

Despite the official verdict, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta voiced strong disagreement after the match, describing it as a 'clear red card' and suggesting that such officiating was going against the Gunners, citing a similar non-call in a previous game against Manchester City. However, based on the established Laws of the Game and VAR protocol, the decision by referee Sam Barrott to issue a yellow card and the subsequent non-intervention by VAR were correct. While Arteta may have felt aggrieved, particularly given the unpenalized foul on Kai Havertz by Abdukodir Khusanov in the Man City game a week prior (where a red card should have been issued), the Pope incident's specific conditions did not warrant a red card.