Arteta unhappy, Halep quits, Luka Doncic in shock and Premier League sticks up for VAR
Premier League bosses provide evidence over improving VAR, Halep quits tennis return and moneybags Newcastle sell to avoid points penalty
Having the terms video assistant referee and key match incidents (KMI) panel as part of football’s lexicon feels pretty dismal for those of us who would love to return to simpler and more innocent times.
Here we are, though, with various bodies and officials settled on the gravy train and meddling with a sport that is becoming unrecognisable from the one we enjoyed pre-VAR. From Premier League bosses overnight, then, came news that brought to mind the phrase about marking your own homework.
According to the KMI panel, after 23 rounds of matches in England’s top-flight, there have been 13 VAR mistakes, which is 20 fewer than at the same point last term. Of those 13 mistakes, four were incorrect VAR interventions, while there were nine missed interventions.
The wronged clubs in the incorrect intervention episodes were Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Brentford. The Premier League did not disclose the nine missed interventions, probably because it did not suit them to do so.
Raducanu beaten, Halep out
Emma Raducanu failed to capitalise on a generous wildcard into the main draw of the Abu Dhabi Open, when she was swept aside 6-3, 6-4 by 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in her first-round match.