PGMOL have released audio of the conversation between the on-field officials and the VARs that led to Chelsea’s Malo Gusto receiving a red card in their loss to Aston Villa in September.
The Blues were beaten 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on September 24 owing to a late Ollie Watkins goal. Prior to that, Gusto was sent off for a high challenge on Lucas Digne.
The initial decision from referee Jarred Gillett was a yellow card, but VAR Andy Madley sent him to the pitch-side monitor to watch Gusto’s lunge back, ultimately deciding to send the right-back off.
As part of the latest episode of Match Officials: Mic’d Up, the conversations from the VAR room and on the pitch were released to the public.
Full transcript of VAR audio in Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
Referee: Tackle’s fine.
Assistant Referee 1: I think it’s a foul, I think foul.
Fourth Official: It’s a caution for me, it’s a caution for me, mate.
Assistant Referee 1: Yeah, I think caution as well.
Fourth Official: He’s caught him at higher…
VAR: Just delay, delay mate. I’m going to check the foul.
Assistant Referee 1: Gusto, yellow card.
Referee: Yellow card, blue 27.
VAR: Right OK, so show me the point of contact…so I’m seeing he’s coming from distance, he leaves the ground. Show me the point of contact, mate. Show me how far away he is from that ball.
Replay Operator: OK, here’s a different angle.
VAR: Yeah. OK, run that. I think he catches him, actually. If you look at that angle, he catches him on the…it’s quite low, it’s on the side of the ankle. The only issue I’ve got is a buckling ankle. Just give me the other side. I think this is a potential on-field review. Yeah, just go before again mate. Yeah, I’m going to send over for a potential…what number is he?
Assistant VAR: 27.
VAR: Jarred, it’s Mads. I’m going to recommend an on-field review for a potential red card for serious foul play. Let me know when you get to the screen, mate.
Referee: Where are we going then?
Assistant Referee 1: My side, up here. It’s up now, screen’s up.
Referee: Yeah, I’ve got it.
VAR: That’s the angle that I want to show him first of all. That’s the angle I want to show him mate, please. Go another one more frame, one more frame. Because it’s more of a buckle, yeah.
Replay Operator: There?
VAR: Maybe one more frame to the left, actually. Because then we see that the foot’s…yeah, OK. You happy with that, Nick?
Assistant VAR: Yeah.
VAR: OK, mate.
Referee: I’m at the screen.
VAR: OK mate, I’ve got a still image there.
Referee: So I can see the point of contact.
VAR: Yeah, so that’s the point of contact. You can see, we’ll run it through as well. You can see the ankle buckle as well, also. He comes from distance and he temporarily leaves the ground.
Referee: Yeah OK, can you show me another angle at full speed?
VAR: Yeah, of course we can mate, we’ll also show you that.
Replay Operator: Switch to this angle, here.
VAR: Yeah, just show that at full speed mate, please.
Referee: OK, so I’m seeing point of contact above the ankle, with the right leg. Momentarily off the ground with two feet. I’m going to change the yellow card to red card, blue 27.
VAR: Confirmed blue 27, mate.
After reviewing the audio, PGMOL chief refereeing officer Howard Webb believed Madley was right to intervene and offer Gillett the chance to review the incident.
“The point of contact, the mode of contact, the full studs with a turned foot above the ankle and that clear significant buckle of the ankle suggests that the player’s safety has been endangered through an excessive force challenge.
“I expected that one to be intervened upon by the officials and I think the outcome is correct.”
Gusto has since completed a three-match suspension, with Chelsea beating Fulham and Burnley in the Premier League as well as Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup in his absence.
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