VAR review: Was Simons' red vs. Liverpool deserved?

hm.as.prod@gmail.com21 December 20251 Mins read6

VAR officials reviewing footage on a screen

Controversy Surrounds Tottenham’s Xavi Simons

In a recent Premier League match between Tottenham and Liverpool, Tottenham’s Xavi Simons was given a red card by referee John Brooks after a VAR review. The decision has sparked controversy, with many questioning whether the card was deserved.

What Happened?

The incident occurred in the 30th minute of the match, when Simons made a late challenge on Liverpool‘s Virgil van Dijk. Brooks initially gave Simons a yellow card for a reckless challenge, but after a VAR review, the decision was overturned, and Simons was given a red card for serious foul play.

VAR Review

According to Andy Davies, a former Select Group referee, the VAR review was a relatively straightforward process. Davies explained that the VAR team, led by Stuart Attwell, reviewed the footage from three different angles, at various speeds, and paused at the point of contact. Attwell was uncomfortable with Simons’ action, feeling that the force and speed of the contact on Van Dijk’s calf endangered his safety and met the threshold for a possible red card.

Verdict

Davies concluded that the VAR review was a correct and positive intervention, with Brooks also correct in overturning his original decision. While some may argue that Simons was unfortunate and had no intent, Davies emphasized that the nature of the contact, on the back of the calf and with a level of force and speed, made it a dangerous challenge.

Other Controversial Incidents

Another incident that sparked controversy was a penalty appeal for Newcastle United against Chelsea. Referee Andrew Madley deemed the challenge by Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah on Anthony Gordon to be a fair challenge, but the VAR review revealed that it was a foul challenge. Davies expressed sympathy with Madley, who would have had some doubt about the level of contact, but ultimately, the review process highlighted that Chalobah made a clear, careless foul challenge on Gordon.