Arsenal will be fuming after leaked VAR audio seemingly reveals why Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes swerved a red card against the Gunners.
The Premier League fixture between Arsenal and Newcastle was littered with several controversial decisions, as Anthony Gordon’s winner went through three different VAR checks and Guimaraes and Kai Havertz escaped red.
The Brazilian caught Jorginho on the head very late with his arm, while Havertz lunged at Sean Longstaff. The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) released the full conversation before the Gordon goal after a Premier League panel ruled that the decision to let the goal stand was the correct one.
While the VAR conversations regarding the Guimaraes and Havertz’s red cards were kept under wraps a leak via the ‘leaked lineups’ Instagram account has brought the conversation in the TV room into light.
What VAR officials said about the decision taken on the Arsenal vs Newcastle matchday
VAR Andy Madley and assistant VAR Stuart Burt allegedly heard analysing Guimaraes’ potential red after on-pitch referee Stuart Atwell admits that he ‘has not seen’ the incident.
Madley begins: “I’m just going to check potential serious foul play. He goes into the player… so he lifts his arm up because he’s going into the defender, for me.
“Just have a look at this for me Stu (AVAR) as well mate. So he sees the player,
He puts his arm up and there’s a glancing blow on the side of his head but for me, that’s not use as a weapon. That’s not violent conduct. Are you happy with that as well?”
Burt responds by concurring with Madley:
“Yeah, it’s not nice but I don’t think it’s any more than a yellow card mate.”
Madley then concluded the conversation and added: “Yeah, it doesn’t reach the threshold. Stuart (Attwell – referee) it’s check complete, check complete.”
The Independent Key Match Incidents Panel ruled that both Guimaraes and Havertz should have been sent off. While there a 3-2 split decision against Guimaraes,
They were unanimous that the German forward should have given his marching orders.
Moreover, PGMOL chief Howard Webb also admitted that both red cards missed.
