Video Assistant Referee decisions generate weekly controversy in the Premier League with scrutiny on how decisions are made and applied. A Fulham-Manchester United corner triggered a VAR check for a Calvin Bassey challenge on Mason Mount; the on-field referee initially allowed play to continue and was sent to the monitor after one minute and 45 seconds, resulting in a penalty award that was missed. Guidance prioritizes intervening only for clear, extreme non-footballing actions that prevent an opponent from moving, aiming to catch excessive examples without causing a large spike in penalties. Separate questions arose about whether Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford should have been sent off against Tottenham.
What happened: Manchester United had a corner in the 33rd minute. As the ball came into the area, several players went to ground through grappling and holding but referee Chris Kavanagh allowed play to continue. It then became clear a VAR check was being made for a possible penalty over a foul by Calvin Bassey on Mason Mount, yet it was one minute and 45 seconds until the referee was sent to the monitor by the VAR, Darren England.
"What we've said to the officials is if you get one of those situations where one player is clearly dragging another one to the floor in an extreme non-football action, even if it's off the ball, we expect the referee to see it," Webb said. "Or if it's a clear one, then the VAR will intervene and recommend the referee looks at it at the screen because it fits the criteria that we've laid out. An extreme non-footballing action which prevents an opponent from moving."
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