PGMOL expert: Darren England should be suspended over Nottingham Forest-Arsenal controversy
Darren England should be stripped of his VAR duties after failing to award a late penalty to Arsenal against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Michael Oliver was unsighted as Ola Aina handled the ball in the box on 17 January.
After Man City fell to defeat against Man United, Mikel Arteta‘s side missed their chance to move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table, being held to a goalless draw by the Reds.
The Gunners were not without their chances, even with Viktor Gyokeres stinking out the City Ground, and they might have had the perfect chance to score from 12 yards had Michael Oliver given a decision.
Ola Aina should have been punished for handball vs Arsenal
In the 80th minute, Aina clearly handled the ball inside the penalty area, with shouts ringing around the City Ground for a spot-kick to be awarded, but they fell upon deaf ears.
The incident was heavily debated, even between the managers, with Sean Dyche saying that it was never a penalty, while Arteta was absolutely adamant that it was handball from Forest’s No.34.
However, it was not an easy decision to make, with Oliver likely to have been completely unsighted due to the players facing away from him, with the finger of blame landing on VAR’s shoulders.
England was in charge at Stockley Park, and after a quick review, the Gunners were left frustrated as they were forced to leave the City Ground with just a single point instead of three.
Darren England fails to help Michael Oliver at the City Ground
Hackett, exclusively speaking to Football Insider on The Final Whistle, said: “It’s a subjective call. You can see a cusping of the arm towards the ball. Arsenal get a rough ride.
“When you look at it, I just smiled, because when Sean Dyche comes out trying to defend the referee, my first view was that a penalty should have been awarded.
“I was right. I think they [VAR] are confused about ‘clear and obvious’. There’s a relationship issue between officials, with some new guys on the block.
“You should be able to analyse a VAR performance, and if they don’t meet a standard, and you make a mistake, sorry, you’re going to spend next weekend sat on your hands, not at Stockley Park.”