KMI panel praise VAR for not awarding correct Arsenal penalty at the Emirates

The Premier League Key Match Incidents Panel has ruled that Arsenal forward Kai Havertz should have been awarded a penalty during the recent match against Everton.

However, the panel also concluded that the video assistant referee was correct not to intervene in the incident.

The moment occurred during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium on March 14.

Havertz went down in the penalty area in the 24th minute following a challenge from Everton defender Michael Keane.

Referee Andy Madley allowed play to continue at the time.

The incident was reviewed by VAR official Stuart Attwell.

After examining the replay footage, the VAR decided not to overturn the on-field decision.

The explanation given was that the contact between Keane and Havertz was considered minimal.

Replays later showed that the Everton defender had stepped on Havertz’s foot while attempting to challenge for the ball.

The incident was subsequently assessed by the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel.

The panel is made up of five members who review controversial decisions after each round of fixtures.

All five members agreed that the original on-field decision should have been a penalty for Arsenal.

The panel therefore unanimously concluded that Madley should have awarded a spot kick.

However, the review also considered whether VAR should have intervened.

On that point the panel was divided.

Three of the five members voted that the decision did not meet the threshold for VAR intervention.

Under VAR guidelines, a review can only overturn a decision if it is judged to be a “clear and obvious error”.

The majority of the panel concluded that the incident did not reach that standard.

As a result, the VAR decision not to intervene was deemed correct despite the panel believing a penalty should have been awarded.

The review highlights the difference between retrospective analysis and the strict protocol used during live matches.

For Arsenal, the incident did not ultimately affect the outcome of the game.

Mikel Arteta’s side went on to secure a 2-0 victory against Everton.

The result helped strengthen their position in the Premier League title race.

According to the league’s decision review data, Arsenal have not had any VAR errors recorded against them this season.

However, two missed penalties for opposing teams have been logged in Arsenal’s favour in other matches.

Those incidents occurred in away fixtures against Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion.

The latest review adds another example to the ongoing debate surrounding the interpretation of VAR intervention thresholds in the Premier League.

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