A VAR who made what referees’ chief Howard Webb described as an “error” in awarding a purpose to Manchester City within the final spherical of Premier League matches has been chosen as a fourth official for the approaching weekend.
Tony Harrington shall be on the touchline for the Newcastle v Brentford match on Saturday, and also will be the referee for Friday evening’s Championship sport between Hull and Coventry as he continues his return from damage.
Harrington and assistant VAR Adam Nunn checked and cleared Nathan Ake’s purpose for City towards Fulham on September 2, which put them 2-1 up in a sport they finally received 5-1.
Ake’s header went low into the underside nook, narrowly passing by his team-mate Akanji who was stood in an offside place. Harrington and Nunn decided that Akanji’s presence had no vital impression on Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Fulham head coach Marco Silva strongly disagreed with the choice to present the purpose, and Webb admitted final week that it mustn’t have counted.
“From the outset I think this should have been disallowed. It certainly appears Akanji has an impact on Leno the goalkeeper who seems to hesitate,” Webb instructed the ‘Match Officials: Mic’d Up’ programme.
“We think it’s a clear situation of offside. Unfortunately it wasn’t identified on the day. This was an error.”
Silva mentioned after the match on September 2: “Everyone that plays football, everyone that has played football, everyone that has some knowledge about football – I’m 100 per cent sure – has to disallow that goal.
“Everyone has to be furious if a goal like that comes against you. For the linesman I believe that it can be difficult but, for the VAR, it is impossible not to disallow that goal. It is a clear offside.”
Nunn shall be an assistant referee alongside Harrington on the Hull v Coventry match.
