Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was furious after his Gunners side lost 1-0 to Newcastle in what has been one of the Premier League’s most controversial games of the season so far – but the Independent Key Match Incidents Panel has today ruled the referee and VAR were correct to award Anthony Gordon’s winner.
What Else Happened On Saturday?
Gordon’s 64th minute strike may well be debated from the Arsenal faithful for a long time yet, but the Premier League’s Independent Key Match Incidents Panel have concluded that both Kai Havertz and Bruno Guimaraes should have been sent-off.
Both players were shown yellow cards for separate incidents but the panel believe they should have been giving their marching orders instead, something of which will likely be debated amongst the football community in the coming weeks.
The Premier League's Independent Key Match Incidents Panel has ruled the referee and the VAR were correct to award Newcastle United's winning goal against Arsenal by 4-1. So that's clear, you can shove someone from behind in the box now. Remember that everyone
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) November 9, 2023
Who Is On The Premier League’s Independent Key Match Incidents Panel?
It has never been confirmed who the five members of the Premier League’s Independent Key Match Incidents Panel are, which is made up of three ex-players and/or coaches and a member from the Premier League and PGMOL.
Former England goalkeeper Rob Green is rumoured to be one of the members, alongside former Arsenal and Chelsea Ladies star Karen Carney. Other names being touted are ex-Premier League referee David Elleray and even the legendary Pierluigi Collina who used to officiate in Serie A between 1991 and 2005.
What Do The Premier League’s Independent Key Match Incidents Panel Do?
VAR has been part of the game in England’s elite division since the 2019/20 season and has continuously come under scrutiny. This season alone, many have doubted VAR’s ability to correctly identify and rectify major incidents, including the infamous Tottenham vs Liverpool fixture in September.
When debatable incidents do occur, the Premier League’s Independent Key Match Incidents Panel is in place to reassess if the correct decisions were made or not. Although their findings can not alter or change the outcome of a result, they can provide a form of clarity and a reasoning behind why decisions were made.
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