How controversial VAR calls have defined two title battles

West Ham’s late equaliser against Arsenal was ruled out after a VAR review found a foul by Pablo on David Raya, leaving Arsenal with a 1-0 win and worsening West Ham’s relegation concerns. In Scotland, VAR intervened with eight seconds of added time to award a penalty for handball against Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson, and Kelechi Iheanacho scored to give Celtic a 3-2 win in the Scottish Premiership. Both decisions produced strong reactions because they benefited the title-chasing clubs, but they differed in how the VAR calls were reached and what counts as conclusive evidence. Public sentiment around Arsenal’s title chances and Celtic’s domestic dominance shaped the reactions, with hopes in Scotland for an end to the Old Firm duopoly.

"Two games, two potentially title-defining stoppage time video assistant referee moments. On Sunday in the Premier League, West Ham saw their equalising goal against Arsenal ruled out for a foul by Pablo on David Raya. It gave the Gunners a 1-0 win to keep the title in their own hands, while also deepening West Ham's relegation worries. Then on Wednesday night, the VAR intervened to give a penalty for handball against Motherwell's Sam Nicholson with just eight seconds remaining in added time."

"This led to a similar kind of impact and reaction as both decisions went in favour of the bigger club, the one fighting for the title who does not have the weight of public support on their side. But it showed differences, too, in how the VAR decisions were reached, and what is considered conclusive. Image source, Alamy Stock Photo "The controversy and discontent around West Ham not being given the goal is because it's Arsenal," Danny Murphy said on MOTD."

"Murphy was suggesting that lots of neutral fans might not want the Gunners to win the title. This is largely due to their style of play, the perception that there is an over-reliance on set-pieces and that they have got away with bullying the opposition on corners. "They can't be held accountable for decisions in the past," Murphy added. "Just because it's Arsenal we shouldn't get it distorted.""

"In Scotland, meanwhile, if you are not of a green-and-white persuasion (and that includes Hibernian) you probably want Hearts to win the title - and end the Celtic-Rangers duopoly. Not since Sir Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen in 1984-85 has a team other than one of the Old Firm been crowned Scottish champions. The VAR intervention means that rather than needing a victory by at least three goals in Saturday's title decider between Celtic and Hearts at Parkhead, any win will now be"

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