Premier League panel gives verdict on controversial Sunderland penalty award against Arsenal

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A Premier League review panel has unanimously agreed that a penalty awarded against Arsenal at Sunderland was incorrect, following criticism from Gunners manager Mikel Arteta.

Referee John Brooks penalised defender Ezri Konsa for holding Sunderland’s Dan Ballard during a corner on 12 September, before David Raya saved Enzo Le Fee’s penalty as the champions secured a 2-0 win.

Furious at the decision, Arteta prompted Arsenal to contact Pro Ref for an explanation.

The five-person Key Match Incidents panel unanimously rejected the on-field call, stating: “Although it was a very untidy challenge in which Konsa initially had arms around Ballard, Ballard engages in a holding action which pulls Konsa onto him so they both fall to the floor.”

However, the panel backed VAR Stuart Attwell 3-2 for failing to intervene, ruling it was not a clear and obvious error.

Arteta remarked after the match: “(The decision) is not acceptable. I watched it 20 times and I cannot find a way to understand how they’d think to give a penalty in that situation or the way the VAR has to intervene.

“At this level with all the work we put in, this cannot happen.”

The panel comprises three former players and coaches, a Premier League representative, and a Pro Ref delegate.

Meanwhile, the panel unanimously determined that Erling Haaland’s winner in the Manchester derby earlier this month should have been ruled out for offside.

Haaland’s goal at Old Trafford on 13 September stood after VAR Matt Donohue and assistant Blake Antrobus ruled the Norway striker onside, but failed to alert referee Michael Oliver to Enzo Fernandez interfering with play from an offside position.

Pro Ref chief refereeing officer Howard Webb said Donohue had “tunnel vision”, focusing only on clearing Haaland and checking if Fernandez touched the ball.

Webb added that assistants including Antrobus should have broadened his focus. Both officials were left out of last weekend’s Premier League matches.

Pro Ref contacted United to acknowledge the mistake and promised a review of its processes.

In its summary on Wednesday, the panel stated: “Fernandez is in an offside position, attempts to play the ball that is close to him, and impacts the ability of the defender and the goalkeeper to play the ball in the process.

“A VAR review should have been recommended for a missed subjective offside in the attacking possession phase.”

There was also unanimous backing for the red card shown to Manchester City’s Phil Foden for kicking United’s Bruno Fernandes in the same fixture, though the panel felt Fernandes warranted a booking.

Had Oliver not sent Foden off on the pitch, VAR could have suggested a yellow card for Fernandes during a red card review.