Referees sidelined for Premier League weekend following FA Cup criticism
Premier League officials Chris Kavanagh and Nick Greenhalgh will not take charge of any top-flight fixtures this weekend after a series of contentious calls during last Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round encounter, reports BritPanorama.
The match in question saw Newcastle United defeat Aston Villa 3-1 at Villa Park, but the officiating performance drew significant criticism from pundits and supporters alike. Without VAR technology available for the cup tie, the responsibility fell entirely on the on-pitch officials to make accurate decisions.
The scrutiny intensified as multiple key incidents were handled incorrectly throughout the 90 minutes, prompting the PGMOL to take action regarding the duo’s upcoming assignments. Among the most glaring mistakes was the failure to flag Tammy Abraham offside when the striker netted Villa’s opener, a decision that should have been straightforward for the linesman.
Lucas Digne then escaped punishment despite launching into a reckless challenge on Jacob Murphy, catching the Newcastle winger high with a dangerous tackle. BBC commentator Danny Murphy suggested the French defender would certainly have received his marching orders had video technology been in use.
Perhaps most baffling was the handball incident involving Digne, where Kavanagh awarded a free kick despite the infringement clearly occurring several yards inside the penalty area rather than outside it. Wayne Rooney expressed his disbelief at the handball decision during his appearance on Match of the Day, describing it as among the poorest officiating calls he has witnessed in the sport. “That decision is one of the worst decisions I have ever seen in football because at no stage was Digne out of the penalty box,” Rooney stated.
The PGMOL determines which referees are assigned to Premier League matches based on multiple criteria, including post-match evaluations carried out by an independent Key Match Incidents panel designed to hold officials accountable. Despite the weekend’s controversy, the 40-year-old Kavanagh continues to be held in high esteem within refereeing circles, having first officiated in England’s top division back in April 2017.
His standing in the game was further enhanced when he joined FIFA’s international list in 2019, followed by his elevation to UEFA’s elite referee category in December alongside Premier League colleagues Anthony Taylor and Michael Oliver. Gary Beswick, the other assistant working at Villa Park, largely escaped criticism and has been selected to officiate when Nottingham Forest host Liverpool on Sunday.
Newcastle are next in action on Wednesday, with Eddie Howe’s men due to lock horns with Qatabag FK in their Champions League play-off match. Villa, meanwhile, will lock horns with Leeds United on Saturday.
In the world of officiating, particularly in high-stakes matches, the weight of judgment can shift as swiftly as the action on the pitch, serving as a reminder that every whistle blown can tilt the narrative of a season.
