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Chaos in England: Brighton’s goal was disallowed, then awarded, then disallowed again by VAR!
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 27.02.21. | 18:21
Seagulls also missed two penalties
Another week, another VAR controversy. This time it was the relegation battle match between WBA and Brighton, which the Baggies eventually won 1-0, but only after the guests missed two penalties and had the same goal disallowed – twice!
Referee Lee Mason and his colleague in the VAR room were heavily criticized for that awkward situation in the 28th minute. Brighton thought they had leveled when Lewis Dunk curled in a quick free-kick. Referee Mason blew his whistle – before quickly blowing again – but in between Dunk had shot and scored. Brighton’s players surrounded Mason to complain and the referee eventually gave the goal – only to finally reverse his decision after a chaotic few minutes and pull the game back for the Seagulls to retake their initial free-kick.
The Premier league explained the decision on Twitter, but still, comments and reactions just poured in.
Lewis Dunk takes a quick free-kick and bends the ball into the net but after consulting the VAR, referee Lee Mason has overturned the goal because the whistle had been blown a second time before the ball had crossed the line
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 27, 2021
West Brom 1-0 Brighton (37 mins)⁰#WBABHA
Sportsmail's man at the game, Rob Draper, says players could be heard calling the referee a 'f****** disgrace' and a 'f****** embarrassment,' but received no punishment.
“If Mason just waited for the VAR to check, it would have confirmed his first decision, to disallow, because the ball wasn’t over the line when he blew his whistle. Once VAR did overturn the decision and disallowed the goal, there was fresh round of ‘f****** disgrace’ from the Brighton players. And no cards” said Draper to Daily Mail.
Leicester legend Gary Lineker also criticized the decision.
This is a first even with the levels this season’s bonkersness. Lee Mason has disallowed a goal, then given a goal, then disallowed a goal. Best, confused of Leicester.
— Gary Lineker ???? (@GaryLineker) February 27, 2021
Former England star Alex Scott said on the BBC’s Football Focus: “The whole situation and how that was dealt with was an embarrassment. One minute it was given then it wasn’t and then it went to VAR – you need someone to take control and explain and then it stops everything that we’ve just seen happen from happening”.
Some fans on social media pointed to an old interview with Nuno Espirito Santo, where the manager criticized Mason for whistling too often when under pressure from shouting players.
“The referee doesn't have the quality to whistle a game in the Premier League,” said the Wolves boss.
The Seagulls did have two more chances to win the match, or at least to make a point, but Gross and Welbeck missed two penalties, with both players hitting the woodwork. What a game….
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