Former ref’s controversial opinion on Southampton’s overturned pen at City

Former Premier League referee Chris Foy has provided his controversial opinion on Southampton’s overturned penalty at Manchester City.

Saints were awarded a spot-kick by on-field ref Jon Moss when Adam Armstrong appeared to be taken out by Kyle Walker when racing through on goal and the City man was also sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity.

However, both calls were overturned with the help of VAR as Moss viewed the incident again on the pitchside monitor.

Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Chris Foy explains that he feels the right decision was eventually reached because Saints man Armstrong, in his eyes, initiated the contact and caused what was effectively a 50/50 challenge for the ball.

Southampton right to feel hard done by with latest VAR controversy

There are a number reasons why Saints fans and the clubs players will feel they could have had even more at the Etihad Stadium after seeing a VAR call deny a potential win. Looking at the Armstrong and Walker tangle again shows that there are still some grey areas with the decisions that are made using the video technology.

Firstly, there have been penalties in the past that have been given for similar situations and some will continue to be given into the future. Ultimately, the tangle stopped Adam Armstrong from shooting and Kyle Walker did not get anywhere near the ball – some teams will continue get this in their favour.

Armstrong gets a touch before Walker and the City defender’s lunge means that the Saints man is stopped in his tracks and cannot progress any further, meaning that this is surely a foul anywhere else on the pitch.

There is also the clear and obvious error debate. Yes, it was a clear error in awarding a penalty if the officials eventually thought it was wrong, but is it clear and obvious when very few complaints would have been made if the original call had stood? It all still remains unclear, that is for sure.