Leicester City vs Southampton: Three Takeaway Thoughts from the Match

When does a phase of play become a new phase?

Approximately 36 minutes and 19 seconds into the game, Southampton’s newest midfield addition, Ibrahim Diallo was breaking at pace when he was fouled unceremoniously. Somewhat implausibly, Stuart Atwell missed the blatant offence and play continued with Leicester in possession.

39 seconds later, James Maddison had the ball in the net and Southampton were a goal down. Southampton players were incensed, not to mention several thousand supporters screaming at their TV screens. It was deemed by the officials at Stockley Park that the missed foul was too many phases ago to be looked at.

BT sport wheeled out resident fraud Peter Walton to defend the decision, which he duly did in his usual oblivious fashion.  Despite less than 40 seconds elapsing from foul to goal and Southampton not getting an obvious chance to regain possession, the goal stood. The state of refereeing in this country has been under a lot of scrutiny but for many watching, it was unclear why VAR did not intervene.

If referees and VAR are to earn the trust of the watching public, there has to be greater transparency in the process, akin to what we see in Cricket and Rugby.