The Premier League has decided to appoint Matt Donohue for VAR duty when Newcastle United travel to Liverpool on Wednesday night despite the official’s controversial decision on Saturday when Everton faced Manchester United.
Donohue was the lead VAR official this weekend when the Toffees saw a contentious decision for a penalty overturned by VAR. Ashley Young felt he had been fouled by defender Matthijs de Ligt in stoppage time at Goodison Park.
Originally, referee Andy Madley agreed and awarded the penalty but it transpired that he felt Harry Maguire was the one who made the challenge. Donohue requested for Madley to go to the monitor to check the decision and decided to reverse his on-field call.
However, many Everton supporters felt aggrieved that the camera angle through the goal w’as not used by VAR with former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher insisting that had Madley seen that angle, the penalty would have stood. Instead of being dropped for his decision, the PGMOL has decided to stick by Donohue for the upcoming midweek fixtures.
As well as being the lead VAR for Newcastle’s trip to Anfield, he shall hold the same position on Tuesday night when Brighton and Hove Albion host AFC Bournemouth. Referee Madley has also been assigned a match too with him being in the centre circle for Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal.
Wednesday night’s clash on Merseyside will be the precursor to the Carabao Cup final next month. Newcastle head into the game full of confidence after beating Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park but Eddie Howe will hope his team have learnt their lessons after allowing Forest back into the match in the second half.
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