Latest news with #ChrisKavanagh
The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Premier League referees to crack down on players holding in the box
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Manchester United - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - May 16, 2025 Referee Chris Kavanagh looks at a VAR screen REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo LONDON (Reuters) -Premier League referees are likely to award more penalties this season in a tougher response to players who grapple and hold opponents in the penalty area. Howard Webb, chief operating officer of referees' body the PGMOL, told reporters on Thursday that feedback from a recent Premier League survey had highlighted "a few too many" clear holding offences going unpunished. He said VAR could intervene in situations of "extreme non-footballing action" where a player was clearly dragging another to the ground, even off the ball. "I would expect, if we're sitting around this table this time next year, there to have been a few more penalties given for holding offences than what we've seen (last season)," he said. "But not a huge swing of the pendulum, because that's really difficult to sustain over a period of time." Webb said there would still be "some grey zone situations where the referee's call stands, where the referee says 'No, it's a small touch, it's not impacting his ability to move the ball, it's mutual holding. "That will stay the referee's call. "When there's no considerations to support the referee's call, then we'll expect VAR to get involved as well," added Webb. Nottingham Forest were awarded a penalty, confirmed after a VAR check, last season in a 7-0 thrashing of Brighton & Hove Albion when Tariq Lamptey bundled Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White to the ground. A subsequent Premier League statement referred to "sustained holding with no attempt to play the ball". The PGMOL has tried before to reduce holding but Webb said this time the approach would be more lasting. "This is not meant to be a two-week campaign, a six-week campaign, August and September and then forget all about it," he explained. "If we went in like a steam train and gave every little bit of contact then it would be a six week campaign because we get told very quickly to ease off on what we're doing. "We have to take the game with us, we have to be credible." The new season kicks off on Friday when champions Liverpool host Bournemouth. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Championship play-off final history made as referee speaks to crowd to explain why goal was controversially ruled out
Similar incident happened earlier in the season at Wembley CELEBRATIONS O-VAR Championship play-off final history made as referee speaks to crowd to explain why goal was controversially ruled out Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FOOTBALL fans saw history made in the Championship play-off final. Sheffield United took on Sunderland at Wembley for a place in next season's Premier League. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Harrison Burrows shot through the crowd as Sheffield United thought they were 2-0 up Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 2 Chris Kavanagh announced the goal was chalked off over the PA system Credit: Sky Sports Tyrese Campbell gave the Blades the lead on 25 minutes, expertly dinking in to round off a superb counter attack. Less than ten minutes later, Harrison Burrows thought he had made it 2-0. Burrows let fly from outside the area as the ball flew into the back of the net. But replays showed Vini Souza was impeding Anthony Patterson's vision and ability to save the shot. That saw VAR intervene - the technology in force for the play-off final despite not being used during the regular season. But rather than overturn the decision, the VAR sent Chris Kavanagh over to the pitchside monitor to watch the incident and make a call on the subjective offside. Kavanagh decided Souza was interfering and therefore ruled the goal out. That led to the referee announcing over the tannoy that the goal was ruled out because United's No21 was offside. And it became the first time in a Championship play-off final that a VAR decision was explained to the crowd over the PA system inside the stadium by the referee. Fans at the Carabao Cup final saw similar scenes at Wembley in March. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
The Irish Sun
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Championship play-off final history made as referee speaks to crowd to explain why goal was controversially ruled out
FOOTBALL fans saw history made in the Championship play-off final. Sheffield United took on Sunderland at Wembley for a place in next season's Premier League. Advertisement 2 Harrison Burrows shot through the crowd as Sheffield United thought they were 2-0 up Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 2 Chris Kavanagh announced the goal was chalked off over the PA system Credit: Sky Sports Tyrese Campbell gave the Blades the lead on 25 minutes, expertly dinking in to round off a superb counter attack. Less than ten minutes later, Harrison Burrows thought he had made it 2-0. Burrows let fly from outside the area as the ball flew into the back of the net. But replays showed Vini Souza was impeding Anthony Patterson's vision and ability to save the shot. Advertisement That saw VAR intervene - the technology in force for the play-off final despite not being used during the regular season. But rather than overturn the decision, the VAR sent Chris Kavanagh over to the pitchside monitor to watch the incident and make a call on the subjective offside. Kavanagh decided Souza was interfering and therefore ruled the goal out. That led to the referee announcing over the tannoy that the goal was ruled out because United's No21 was offside. Advertisement Most read in Football And it became the first time in a Championship play-off final that a VAR decision was explained to the crowd over the PA system inside the stadium by the referee. Fans at the Carabao Cup final saw similar scenes at Wembley in March. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video . Like us on Facebook at Advertisement
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Championship play-off final history made as referee speaks to crowd to explain why goal was controversially ruled out
FOOTBALL fans saw history made in the Championship play-off final. Sheffield United took on Sunderland at Wembley for a place in next season's Premier League. 2 2 Tyrese Campbell gave the Blades the lead on 25 minutes, expertly dinking in to round off a superb counter attack. Less than ten minutes later, Harrison Burrows thought he had made it 2-0. Burrows let fly from outside the area as the ball flew into the back of the net. But replays showed Vini Souza was impeding Anthony Patterson's vision and ability to save the shot. That saw VAR intervene - the technology in force for the play-off final despite not being used during the regular season. But rather than overturn the decision, the VAR sent Chris Kavanagh over to the pitchside monitor to watch the incident and make a call on the subjective offside. Kavanagh decided Souza was interfering and therefore ruled the goal out. That led to the referee announcing over the tannoy that the goal was ruled out because United's No21 was offside. And it became the first time in a Championship play-off final that a VAR decision was explained to the crowd over the PA system inside the stadium by the referee. Fans at the Carabao Cup final saw similar scenes at Wembley in March. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Who is the referee for Sunderland's play-off final - and who is the VAR for Wembley?
PREMIER LEAGUE referee Chris Kavanagh will take charge of Sunderland's Championship play-off final against Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon. The 39-year-old started refereeing in the EFL in 2014 before stepping up to the Premier League in 2017. READ MORE: Saturday's game will be his second Championship final, having refereed the 2021 Wembley showpiece when Fulham beat Swansea 2-0 and he sent off the Swans' Jay Fulton. The two assistant referees are Lee Betts and Neil Davies, with Peter Bankes having been selected as the fourth official. The final at Wembley will include the use of VAR, semi-automated offside technology and in-stadia announcements. John Brooks has been selected as the VAR official for the game, with Timothy Wood as his assistant.
