What constitutes 'serious foul play' according to football's lawmakers?

Serious foul play is defined by Ifab as a tackle or challenge that endangers an opponent's safety or uses excessive force or brutality.

Why is VAR having problems with red cards in the Premier League?

VAR has made errors in over 30% of cases involving red cards for serious foul play or violent conduct in the last two seasons.

What was the recent controversial red card incident involving Brighton and Liverpool?

Brighton's Diego Gomez received only a yellow card for a chest-high challenge on Liverpool's Florian Wirtz, despite a VAR review.

Home / Sports / Premier League VAR continues to miss serious foul play

Premier League VAR continues to miss serious foul play

15 Dec

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Summary

VAR errors concerning red cards represent 30.61% of all mistakes.
Brighton's Diego Gomez received only a yellow for a chest-high challenge.
Football's lawmakers define serious foul play as endangering safety.

Premier League VAR continues to miss serious foul play

Video assistant referees in the Premier League continue to exhibit significant issues when making red card decisions. Over the past two seasons, a concerning 30.61% of all VAR errors, equating to 15 out of 49 mistakes, have been related to red cards for serious foul play or violent conduct.

The latest controversy occurred during Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Brighton on Saturday. Brighton forward Diego Gomez received a yellow card for a challenge on Florian Wirtz that many observers felt should have been a red. VAR official Darren England reviewed the incident but ultimately upheld the on-field decision, ruling it did not meet the threshold for serious foul play.

According to the International Football Association Board (Ifab), serious foul play involves tackles that endanger an opponent's safety or use excessive force. Gomez's challenge, made from a standing position with a raised foot to the opponent's chest, raises questions about whether VAR correctly applied these guidelines, contributing to the ongoing debate about VAR's effectiveness in crucial match incidents.