General Premier League Thread 2025/2026 - See Post #1 for Mod Note

Don’t know where they got 13 minutes injury time from last night

Ref thought it was Liverpool...

That's a joke before people lose their **** 😅

Ref had the option of looking at other incidents in the box apart from the foul on raya. Didn’t see anything in the trossard action and the rice action came later than the given foul. Officials dealt with it well. Was not at all easy.

Transcript: VAR audio of West Ham's disallowed goal

Referee (REF): Chris Kavanagh
Assistant Referee 1 (AR1): Dan Cook
VAR: Darren England
Assistant VAR (AVAR): Akil Howson
RO: Hawk-Eye replay operator

When the on-field team is able to hear the VAR discussion, the text is shown in bold*.*

VAR: Possible foul on keeper.
VAR: Watch has gone.
AVAR: Goal given.
AR1: I don't see any foul on the goalkeeper.
REF: On-field decision is goal.
VAR: Checking the on-field decision of goal.
VAR: OK, let's play it through, let's play it through. Let's just get a feel now.
VAR: So, the keeper there…
VAR: Then it's just a shot. So, it's literally just a possible foul on Raya, what I'm seeing in terms of that.
AVAR: Yeah, and to make sure he doesn't have it in his hand.
VAR: OK, let's get a tighter angle on the goalkeeper please.
VAR: On the Arsenal goalkeeper.
RO: Yeah.
VAR: This one. Slow it down, frame by frame.
VAR: For me, there is a foul. Potential foul with the arm.
VAR: His hand is holding his arm down. That's impactful, for me.
VAR: The left arm there, is holding, is across the body.
VAR: He's across the head and he's holding the left arm of Raya, there.
VAR: Which impedes his ability to get to the ball properly.
VAR: Doesn't look that impactful from that angle.
RO: I've got a pole-cam angle.
VAR: Give us pole-cam.
AVAR: It's like, Raya…
AVAR: Because that contact we've got there, we've got…
VAR: Just keep delaying. Just checking possible foul on the goalkeeper.
AVAR: You've got that straight behind him as well, look.
VAR: Yeah.
RO: I'll go back to the original angle.
VAR: Yeah.
VAR: But this happens before.
RO: Do you want to see it at full speed?
VAR: Yes please.
VAR: Is it impactful on the goalkeeper that, for me.
VAR: Go back to the second angle you showed me, the second angle.
RO: No problem, just going to look now.
AVAR: Can you do a split screen on both of them as well?
VAR: This one here, this one. Yeah, give us a split screen. That one and then the first angle.
RO: OK, goalline?
VAR: No, sorry, this one and this one, thank you.
AVAR: I don't like Trossard not facing the ball and you've got…
AVAR: I agree, it's impactful, it's just everything else that's going on as well.
AVAR: Let's say we're saying that's a foul, then what are we saying about Trossard's actions on the same player?
AVAR: What are we saying about Declan Rice behind?
VAR: Yeah.
VAR: He still gets a hand to the ball, doesn't he? When he's getting to the ball.
AVAR: What's your initial opinion as you watched it?
VAR: I think, for me, we send him for an on-field review to look at the possible foul on the goalkeeper.
VAR: And then we get him to look at the other incidents as well. I think that's the best decision in terms of this.
VAR: OK.
VAR: Chris (Chris Kavanagh - REF), I'm going to recommend an on-field review for a possible foul on the goalkeeper but there are some other incidents to look at while you're at the monitor as well.
REF: OK.
VAR: So, I'm going to show you a possible foul on the goalkeeper.
RO: This angle?
REF: OK.
VAR: The left arm of Pablo comes across Raya and holds on to the left arm of Raya as he goes to win the ball.
REF: Yeah.
VAR: I'm showing you that now.
REF: I can see the clear holding on him across.
VAR: Yeah, but then I'm just going to show you some, obviously, other angles on that incident, of players.
REF: OK.
AVAR: You've got Declan Rice and you've got Trossard.
REF: I don't know what you're trying to show me, give me a clue.
VAR: Trossard on Pablo. Just if you look at Trossard on Pablo. Give me a better angle on that.
VAR: I'll get you a better angle.
REF: I don't think there's much in that at all, I'm happy with that.
VAR: Yeah, OK.
REF: That's nothing.
VAR: And then if you just want to consider the actions of Declan Rice on Mavropanos at the back.
VAR: But the foul happens on the goalkeeper before.
REF: Before it, so… After review, West Ham number…
VAR: 19.
REF: 19. Foul.
REF: Just confirm his number again for me.
VAR: 19.
VAR: Yeah, confirmed.
REF: Mic open.
REF: After review, West Ham number 19 commits a foul on the goalkeeper. Final decision is direct free-kick.

I'd think any VAR decision that bailed out my team would show the refs in a good light too.

"Can't send Gabriel off for a headbutt mate imagine the headlines" would also have been fantastic communications by them I'm sure.

Him not being banned for 3 important games obviously helps them

The VAR discussions on all the incidents that went City's way on Saturday would be interesting too.

Were they released also?

Near the end of extra time, could be penalties to decide who meets Hull in the most valuable soccer match in the world

I'd happily see Boro or Hull in the PL again

Again no one said Raya wasn't fouled. Bless them who think people said he wasn't.

If they agreed its a foul on the keeper, then it should be case closed. But no they all have to keep saying its controversial. Round in circles.

you are probably right……. Saturdays selection will be really interesting

players shouldn’t need rest at this stage of the season

Fair play to Arsenal but I really hope the league is a more interesting watch this season.

Other teams need to be braver and not revert to the current trend.

Yeah, looking at the table, everyone down to Sunderland can still qualify for Europe, depending on the number of places.

Palace have the Conference League final, so Newcastle, Leeds, Forest and the two relegated teams are the only ones with nothing to play for.