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Goal line technology to be reviewed

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Oliver McBurnie and Jack Robinson of Sheffield United appeal for a goal which is later denied as Orjan Nyland of Aston Villa catches the ball during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at Villa Park on June 17, 2020 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Pool via Getty Images)

Premier League referees will review the goalline technology error that denied Sheffield United a goal in their draw at Aston Villa

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said the video assistant referee did not intervene because of the “unique” circumstances.

PGMOL will now discuss how a similar incident in the future can be handled.

It comes as former top-flight referee Mark Clattenburg said the controversy had highlighted a “fundamental flaw”.

The situation occurred in the 42nd minute of Wednesday’s 0-0 draw – the first Premier League match for 100 days, after the competition was halted by the coronavirus pandemic in March.

Sheffield United – who would have moved above Manchester United into fifth place with a win – thought they had scored when Villa goalkeeper Orjan Nyland carried Oliver Norwood’s free-kick over the line. But referee Michael Oliver did not receive a signal to indicate a goal.

Hawk-Eye – the operator of the goalline technology – subsequently apologised but said the system “remained functional throughout”.

The company added it was the first time such an error had occurred in more than 9,000 matches using the system.

However, speaking to BBC Sport, Clattenburg, said it showed technology “can fail at any time”.

Clattenburg, who took charge of almost 300 Premier League games between 2004 and 2017, went on to apportion further blame for the failing to the video assistant referee system.

“I automatically expected the video assistant referee to come in,” he said.

“He’s probably thought: ‘We have the technology in place. Why do we need to make a decision?’ and that is the fundamental flaw. Technology is there to help, it is not there to make the final decision.

“The VAR has let the referee Michael Oliver down. If he had checked the goal, we would not be talking about it now. Referees can make mistakes; the VAR can’t, because he has all the evidence there.

“I have had situations in the Premier League, where the watch would go off and give a goal when the ball did not enter the goal. This can happen sometimes, where it just malfunctions and people would not notice that.

“Overall I think it [VAR] has been letting referees down in the Premier League. The Premier League spend a lot of money on technology but if it is not used correctly, people lose confidence in it and they get frustrated. That’s one of the biggest problems at the moment.

“Sheffield United could miss out on a European place because of two points they lost because of technology.

“It’s not like a [normal] refereeing decision. You can say they balance out over a season – but not when you’re talking about something that was so clearly wrong.”

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WERNER SIGNS FOR CHELSEA

The forward, 24, has agreed personal terms with the Blues and, subject to passing a medical, will join in July after the German league season ends.

Werner, who joined Leipzig from Stuttgart in 2016, has scored 32 goals in all competitions so far this season.

“I am delighted to be signing for Chelsea, it is a proud moment for me to be joining this great club,” said the German international.

Werner, who is known for his pace and can also play as a winger, thanked the club and fans at Leipzig and said they would “would always be in my heart”.

His July move also confirms Werner will not play for Leipzig in the Champions League quarter-finals in August.

He added: “I look forward to next season with my new team-mates, my new manager and of course the Chelsea fans.

“Together we have a successful future ahead of us.”

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia says the club is “excited” to have one of Europe’s “most coveted players” heading to Stamford Bridge.

“He has that rare mix of being young and exciting and yet established and proven,” she added.

Werner is Chelsea’s second signing for next season after they completed a £37m deal for Ajax winger Hakim Ziyech in February

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OLE WANTS LEADERSHIP FROM POGBA

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to see some leadership on the pitch from Paul Pogba.

The club record signing, 27, has made just two appearances since September because of a fractured foot.

But despite speculation about his future, Pogba’s chances of staying at United have increased – with the transfer market expected to collapse because of Covid-19’s financial impact.

“Paul is one of the best midfielders in the world,” said Solskjaer.

“He is a World Cup winner and we want to have that leadership on the pitch.”

Pogba last played for United on 26 December as he attempted a comeback from his injury, but suffered a setback and required surgery on his foot in January.

With United set to resume their Premier League campaign at Tottenham on Friday – more than three months after the campaign was halted by the coronavirus pandemic – Solskjaer wants to see the France midfielder make a bigger impact.

“Now that he is fit and training and available, I can see from his mentality and focus, that he is ready to play again,” Solskjaer said.

“Whether that is for 45 minutes this time, or 60 I don’t know but gradually, over these next few months, we hope to work him back up to his best.”

BBC Sport understands United’s coaching staff were encouraged by the pairing of Pogba and January signing Bruno Fernandes in the same team during last week’s friendly defeat by West Brom at Old Trafford.

With Scotland international Scott McTominay one of United’s best performers of the season and both Fred and Nemanja Matic improving as the campaign went along, the midfield area – once a weakness – has become a strength.

“Any of them would be capable of playing a full season as a regular at Manchester United so it’s given me a nice challenge to pick the right ones against the right opponents,” said Solskjaer.

By the time they take to the field at Tottenham, 103 days will have elapsed since United beat Manchester City at Old Trafford in their last Premier League match.

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REAL MADRID PUT THE PRESSURE ON BARCELONA

Karim Benzema became Real Madrid’s fifth all-time leading goalscorer with a double in a victory over Valencia, which closed the gap on league leaders Barcelona to two points.

Benzema, 32, has now netted 243 goals in all competitions for Real, overtaking Ferenc Puskas’ tally.

Ex-Chelsea forward Eden Hazard set up his first goal on the hour before Benzema scored a stunning late volley.

Substitute Marco Asensio scored Real’s second with his first touch.

Benzema’s second goal, which came deep into the second half, was a superb piece of skill, involving a flick and volley which caused manager Zinedine Zidane to put his head in his hands in disbelief.

The Frenchman’s goal, assisted by substitute Asensio, capped off a brilliant second-half performance from Real.

Spaniard Asensio, who suffered a knee injury last summer and has missed almost the entirety of this season, came on in the 73rd minute and guided a volley from Ferland Mendy’s cross into the net 30 seconds later to make it 2-0.

Real Madrid’s all-time top scorers in all competitions
1) Cristiano Ronaldo – 4504) Santillana – 290
2) Raul – 3235) Karim Benzema – 243
3) Alfredo Di Stefano – 3086) Ferenc Puskas – 242

But Benzema’s volley was a contender for goal of the season and confirmed his place among some of the greatest strikers in Real’s history.

There was plenty of positives for Hazard too – his partnership with Benzema is blossoming and his assist for the Frenchman’s first set Real on their way.

Hazard, who joined from Chelsea for £150m in June 2019, had several shots on target in the first half but could not get the better of Valencia keeper Jasper Cillessen, who was in good form all evening.

And it was Valencia who thought they had struck first at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium – Real’s training ground – when Rodrigo had a goal ruled out for offside by VAR.

That decision, which saw referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez go over to the VAR screen at the side of the pitch, came moments after Rodrigo struck the outside of the right post.

But Real dominated after the break and it went from bad to worse for Valencia when substitute Lee Kang-In was shown a straight red card for several kicks at Sergio Ramos.

The result means Real Madrid sit two points behind Barcelona in second place ahead of their next game on Sunday away to Real Sociedad, while Barcelona travel to Sevilla on Friday

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ATLETICO DEFEAT OSASUNA

Portugal forward Joao Felix scored two goals as Atletico Madrid moved into a Champions League spot with a crushing win at Osasuna.

The 20-year-old Portugal forward, a £113m signing from Benfica last July, struck either side of half-time before three goals in the last 11 minutes.

Marcos Llorente made it 3-0, and Alvaro Morata and Yannick Carrasco added to Osasuna’s pain with late goals.

Atletico, who had started the day sixth in the table, climb to fourth.

They are two points behind third-placed Sevilla after their biggest win of the season, while their remaining nine games include a trip to leaders Barcelona on 1 July.

Diego Simeone’s side have taken four points from two games since La Liga resumed behind closed doors last week after being suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESTART DATE ANNOUCED


This season’s Champions League and Europa League competitions will be completed in August with ‘final eight’ tournaments in Lisbon, Portugal and in cities across Germany.

The Women’s Champions League will also be a knockout tournament, in northern Spain between 21 to 30 August.

Competitions were suspended in March because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Uefa also confirmed that all 12 original host cities will stage matches in the delayed Euro 2020 finals.

That competition will now start on 11 June 2021. The outstanding play-off matches will be staged during the international windows starting on 8 October and 12 November, respectively.

Champions League schedule
7 AugustLast 16 second legs
8 AugustLast 16 second legs
12 AugustQuarter-final
13 AugustQuarter-final
14 AugustQuarter-final
15 August Quarter-final
18 August Semi-final
19 August Semi-final
23 August Final

The Champions League will resume with the second-leg of the remaining last 16 games played on 7 and 8 August – Manchester City have yet to play their home leg against Real Madrid, Chelsea are away at Bayern Munich, Juventus are home to Lyon and Napoli are at Barcelona. Uefa said it has yet to decide whether to host the matches at the home grounds or at a neutral venue.

The subsequent knockout rounds will be single-leg affairs and will be hosted in Lisbon between 12 to 23 August. The final has been scheduled for 23 August in the Portuguese capital.

Istanbul, originally appointed to stage the 2020 final, will now host the 2021 final.

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MERTENS TO STAY IN NAPOLI

Belgian forward Dries Mertens came close to joining Chelsea but will renew his contract with Napoli instead, journalist Kristof Terreur has told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“In January when Chelsea knocked on the door, he was quite convinced,” Belgian reporter Terreur said.

“But once you are in the south of Italy, with good money and you are a god, why would you change that?

“He would come to the Premier League as a nobody and in Italy he is a star.”

Mertens, 33, became Napoli’s outright all-time top goalscorer on Saturday when his goal in the Coppa Italia semi-final win over Inter Milan moved him to 122 for the club, one clear of Marek Hamsik.

The Belgium international’s contract expires at the end of the season, but he has reportedly agreed a three-year extension despite interest from Inter Milan and Chelsea.

Terreur added that Mertens’ love of London, where he and his wife regularly go for mini-breaks, also made Chelsea’s offer attractive.

Chelsea have made attacking additions this summer, with a deal agreed for Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech, and RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner expected to follow.

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CAVANI AND THIAGO TO LEAVE PSG

Edinson Cavani and Thiago Silva are set to leave Paris St-Germain this summer after the conclusion of the club’s Champions League campaign in August.

Uruguay striker Cavani, 33, is PSG’s record scorer with 200 goals and Brazil defender Silva, 35, is club captain.

“It was a difficult decision to make – they are players who made their mark on the club’s history,” sporting director Leonardo told Le Journal du Dimanche.

“The stories were so beautiful. But, yes, we are coming to the end.”

He added: “We had to make a logical decision. Maybe we are wrong, I do not know – there is never a perfect moment. Now the Champions League is still in sight, and the idea is to continue competing with them until the end of August. How it can be done is not yet clear.”

Both players’ contracts are due to expire on 30 June. Ligue 1 was cancelled in April, but the Champions League is due to be completed in August with a mini-tournament behind closed doors.

PSG resume training on 22 June and are already through to the Champions League quarter-finals after beating Borussia Dortmund in March before football was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Cavani had asked to leave the French champions in January amid interest from Spanish side Atletico Madrid, while he was also linked to Manchester United and Chelsea.

Last month, PSG signed striker Mauro Icardi for 60m euros (£54m) from Inter Milan.

When asked if forwards Neymar and Kylian Mbappe would still be at the club next season, Leonardo said: “Nothing tells us otherwise.

“They still have two years on their contracts and we’re more thinking about the future with them. We want to go forward.”

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COSTA PAYS TRIBUTE TO TORRECILLA

Diego Costa marked his first Atletico Madrid goal of 2020 by paying tribute to Virginia Torrecilla – a midfielder for their women’s team – who had surgery for a brain tumour.

Costa celebrated equalising in a draw with Athletic Bilbao by holding a shirt with Torrecilla’s name and number.

Torrecilla had a successful operation to remove a brain tumour in May.

Bilbao captain Iker Muniain had opened the scoring in the 37th minute only for Costa to level two minutes later.

This was Atletico’s first match since knocking holders Liverpool out of the Champions League at Anfield on 11 March.

Diego Simeone’s side remain sixth in the table but are now level on points with Real Sociedad, who sit fourth and in the final Champions League qualifying spot

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PITCH INVADER TO FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES

MALLORCA, SPAIN - JUNE 13: A member of the public is dragged away by security guards after invading the pitch during the La Liga match between RCD Mallorca and FC Barcelona at Estadio de Son Moix on June 13, 2020 in Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

La Liga says it will take legal action after a pitch invader breached security to get a selfie with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi at a behind-closed-doors game.

The fan, wearing an Argentina shirt with Messi’s name and number, appeared on the pitch early in the second half of Saturday’s 4-0 win away to Mallorca.

He managed to pose for a picture within a couple of metres of Messi before being grabbed by security staff.

La Liga said it considers the incident “to represent a criminal act”.

In a statement the Spanish league said it made clear its “total condemnation” of the incident.

“This type of conduct puts the health of others at risk and risks damaging the integrity of the competition,” it added.

The fan claims he scaled a two-metre high fence to gain access to Mallorca’s stadium.

“I had planned this ever since I knew the match was happening. I wanted a photo with Messi and to meet him because he’s my idol,” the French Mallorca resident told radio station Cadena Cope.