Brighton and Hove Albion were left furious after a potential penalty was waved away in their Premier League encounter with Manchester City. Despite VAR review, the on-field decision was upheld, much to the chagrin of the Seagulls.
The incident occurred in the second half when Joao Pedro made a surge into the box and was seemingly clipped by Josko Gvardiol. Referee Jarred Gillett dismissed the home side’s pleas for a spot-kick, a decision that was backed up by VAR.
Commentators suggested Pedro may have gone down too easily, but VAR’s limitations prevented them from recommending a yellow card for simulation.
Brighton’s frustration was evident as they felt they should have been given an opportunity to cut the deficit with 25 minutes remaining. However, the decision stood, and City went on to seal a comfortable victory.
The Seagulls’ anger was further compounded by the fact that VAR could not overturn Gillett’s decision despite the perceived foul. While VAR can be used to overturn a decision and award a penalty if they think the referee has made a ‘clear and obvious error,’ they cannot tell the official to award yellow cards. The only time VAR can advise for a card to be shown is for red card offenses, and simulation does not fall into this bracket.
