Ex-Fifa official: Referees told to ‘keep an eye’ on Richarlison as controversial Tottenham footage emerges
Chelsea can have little complaint with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s goal as they drew 2-2 with Tottenham on Sunday (14 August), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Rodrigo Bentancur’s foul on Kai Havertz came too early in the build-up for VAR to intervene and Richarlison was not interfering with play when stood in an offside position.
Bentancur won the ball back from Havertz deep in his own half before launching a counter-attack that resulted in a Spurs goal 44 seconds later.
Hojbjerg scored with a low shot from outside the area that went past Richarlison who was stood behind the last defender but not in goalkeeper Edouard Mendy’s line of sight.
“On the foul from where the goal eventually came, there’s no way the VAR can intervene – it’s too long before,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“When the PGMOL instruct their referees to raise the bar on fouls, that’s what I think Anthony Taylor did and this is the negative side of it.
“In that scenario, it was a foul but the VAR could not call it back. It’s too long, it loses credibility.
“On the offside, if referees are not keeping one eye on Richarlison they are not doing their job.
“He’s in an offside position but being in an offside position is not an offence.
“There’s a direct shot at goal, the goalkeeper has the ability to move left or right. For me, this is a judgement call and I think they’ve got it right.
“I think they are right not to penalise offside on Richarlison, he’s stood there, not made an active play for the ball. The goalkeeper’s got to move to his right.
“This is down to the interpretation of the match officials on the day and I think they got that right.”
In other news, Tottenham are closing on three marquee signings as a medical is booked.