Premier League trolled over ‘absolute shambles’ picture on website as fans say ‘I thought this was fake’
FANS have slammed the Premier League as an “absolute shambles” over a bizarre photo choice on their website.
Refereeing decisions once again caused huge controversy over the weekend as Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off for a challenge on Wolves defender Matt Doherty.
The 18-year-old was red carded for serious foul play and will now serve a three-match ban.
It led to supporters swatting up on the rules of the game, with fans left baffled by a picture on the Prem‘s website.
One fan investigating the laws on high foot challenges noticed that a snap of Jeremy Doku kicking Alexis Mac Allister was used as the main image on the page.
The challenge occurred during Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool in March last season.
It proved to be one of the most controversial refereeing moments in the title race as Doku’s last-gasp high foot went unpunished.
PGMOL chief Howard Webb later came out and BACKED the decision, saying VAR was correct to not give Liverpool a penalty.
So fans were left utterly baffled by the photo being used to illustrate a high foot, with one saying: “Premier league website using this Doku challenge on Mac Allister as an example of a high foot when it wasn’t even given as a foul in the game. Absolute shambles.”
Another added: “They’re the biggest wind-up merchants going.”
A third wrote: “I thought this was fake.”
The point City picked up proved crucial as they ended up finishing just two ahead of Arsenal to win the title.
Official Michael Oliver was the referee that day and he was again the man with the whistle for Lewis-Skelly’s red card.
Former head of the PGMOL Keith Hackett claims Oliver and Darren England on the VAR made a “major error” by sending off the Arsenal wonderkid.
He even suggested that the under-fire official “needs a rest for a couple of weeks” to recover from the mistake and that VAR needs reforming.
MARK HALSEY: Questions have to be asked of VAR after Lewis-Skelly sending off... here's what SHOULD have happened
By Mark Halsey
VAR Darren England should have recommended a review as soon as referee Michael Oliver showed Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly a straight red card for his challenge on Wolves’ Matt Doherty.
An official has to decide whether the challenge was careless or reckless — careless is a free-kick only, reckless is a yellow card — or worthy of a red card.
When a player lunges at an opponent with one or two feet from the front, the side or from the back which endangers the player’s safety with excess force or/and brutality, it must be sanctioned with a red.
I saw it as a reckless challenge worthy of a yellow, not a red.
So why did Darren not recommend a review? Once the red card was shown, the VAR should have intervened.
If Michael had the opportunity to view the challenge again, I’m sure he would have changed his mind, cancelled the red card and issued a yellow.
As for Arsenal fans’ views that Michael is biased against them, I’m not buying into that. You can never question the integrity of a match official and Michael is one of our best referees.
Officials cannot get everything right and that is why we have VAR to help. So questions have to be asked of Darren.
With the second yellow for Joao Gomes after catching Jurrien Timber on the ankle, you could argue that was a worse challenge than the Lewis-Skelly one.