The VAR Review: Tottenham vs. Chelsea - timeline of chaos

The utilization of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the Premier League is regularly the subject of debate, but how exactly are judgments arrived at and are they always accurate?

At the end of every weekend, we analyze the significant events and clarify how things were handled according to the VAR rules and Laws of the Game.

The impact of VAR decisions on all Premier League clubs in the 2023-24 season was discussed in the blog. It provided a comprehensive guide to VAR in the Premier League.

Chelsea emerged victorious against Tottenham Hotspur in a thrilling encounter on Monday with a scoreline of 4-1. The match was packed with constant excitement, including red cards, goals that were disallowed, endless use of VAR, and a penalty. Below is a summary of how the match unfolded.

Son's Goal Denied For Offside In 14th Minute

Tottenham was leading 1-0 when Son Heung-Min received a pass from Brennan Johnson and scored what they believed would increase their lead. However, the referee ruled it offside.

The decision made by VAR is that the goal does not count.

The VAR review showed that Son was slightly ahead of the final defender, though it was a very close situation.

Udogie May Receive Red Card On 18th Minute

What occurred: Destiny Udogie made a bold move by diving in and retrieving the ball without touching Raheem Sterling. This led to referee Michael Oliver issuing a caution in the form of a yellow card.

After a review by the VAR, the decision has been made that a red card will not be given.

In the VAR review, Udogie got really lucky because if it was a different day, he might have been given a red card. He jumped into the challenge while he was in the air as a Spurs defender. Luckily, John Brooks intervened and gave him just a yellow card, although it was still deemed reckless.

Sterling's Goal Questioned Due To Handball In 21st Minute

What took place: Reece James handed over the ball to Sterling using the outer part of his right foot, and the attacker entered the penalty box and netted a goal. However, the video referee scrutinized for a possible handball.

The VAR review resulted in the decision to disallow the goal.

During the VAR review, it was determined that Sterling had unintentionally touched the ball with his arm after it bounced off Pedro Porro. Since Sterling was the one who scored the goal, the referees decided to disallow it.

Romero May Receive A Red Card In 21st Minute

What occurred: Cristian Romero seemed to strike out at Levi Colwill without the ball, prompting a review by VAR for a possible red card.

The verdict made using the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system states that a red card will not be given.

After conducting a VAR review, it was concluded that Romero's kicking was not forceful enough to be considered violent conduct. Instead, it was considered petulant behavior.

Caicedo's Goal Disallowed For Offside Vs Jackson In 28th Minute

Moisés Caicedo initially believed that he had successfully scored. However, Oliver and his assistant engaged in a short discussion and subsequently determined that the ball had passed Nicolas Jackson while he was in an offside position before entering the goal.

The verdict on the VAR decision is that there is no goal.

The VAR review showed that Jackson was just barely offside, but he was in front of the last defender. Since the ball went between Jackson's legs, it was the right choice to disallow the goal.

Although the offside call is a matter of interpretation, since the referee did not overturn the decision, there is no need for him to check the screen.

28th Minute: Romero Commits Foul On Fernández, Possible Penalty And Red Card

What occurred: Following a review of the offside, the VAR investigated a potential penalty situation involving Romero's tackle on Enzo Fernández.

The VAR made a decision that led to a red card being given, as well as a penalty being awarded and then successfully scored by Cole Palmer.

The VAR review was very extensive, but it was certainly the right decision. Even though Romero made contact with the ball, it does not matter because his forceful and high hit on Fernández's shin was what caused the issue.

If the Caicedo score was valid, VAR would still likely review the tackle to determine if a red card was necessary.

Jackson's Goal Disallowed For Offside In 37th Minute

What occurred: Fernández passed the ball to Sterling, who then provided a square pass to Jackson for a goal -- however, the referee's assistant had a delayed reaction and raised the flag for offside.

Decision of VAR: The goal has been disallowed.

Review of VAR: At the beginning of the play, Sterling was definitely offside and it was a simple inspection.

Porro Risks Penalty On Sterling In 45+7 Minutes

What occurred: Sterling penetrated the penalty area and was tripped by Porro, causing him to fall.

The VAR ruling has determined that a penalty should not be awarded.

The VAR review determined that Oliver made the right decision, as Sterling fell to the ground too easily during a physical confrontation with another player.

James At Risk Of Red Card: 45+11 Minutes

What occurred: When the first half was almost over, James raised his hand and clashed with Udogie. Even though Oliver did nothing, was James' action quite severe to deserve a red card?

The decision made by VAR is that a red card will not be given.

The VAR review concluded that James was fortunate because his action could have easily been considered aggressive behavior. Apparently, the captain of Chelsea Football Club seemed to use his arm to attack, but it did not seem like he intended to harm the opponent intentionally.

Udogie Sent Off In 54th Minute

What occurred: Udogie got his second yellow card after being late during a challenge on Sterling. This decision was not up for discussion by VAR, as he had already been cautioned in the first half.

Sterling's Offside: Was Jackson's Goal Valid?

What occurred: At the 75th minute mark, Chelsea took the lead 2-1 after Sterling passed the ball to Jackson who scored a goal. However, it was a tight situation.

The VAR (Video Assistant Referee) has reviewed the decision and deemed that the goal will remain valid.

During the VAR review, it was determined that Sterling had correctly timed his run to remain onside.

Dier's Disallowed Goal In 78th Minute For Offside

Spurs believed they had scored a thrilling goal with two players down, but the assistant referee disallowed it by waving his flag at Dier.

The VAR review determined that the decision regarding the goal will be negative.

The VAR (Video Assistant Referee) review showed that Dier was not in an offside position when the ball was initially played towards the area. However, when Bentancur flicked the ball on, Dier ended up being marginally ahead of the last defender, who happened to be Caicedo positioned near the penalty spot.

Certain segments of this piece contain data relayed by the Premier League and PGMOL.