West Bromwich Albion and Brighton & Hove Albion (1-0) have provided the necessary spectacle in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. The home team took the lead early on, after which Brighton missed two penalties and saw a sure-looking goal being rejected by the video referee. Referee Lee Stephen Mason and the VAR in particular had to pay for it after the game.
West Bromwich took the lead after ten minutes of play, when Kyle Bartley came out high above everyone and headed the opening goal against the ropes on a pass from Conor Callagher. Then trouble began for Brighton. The team of manager Graham Potter thought they were on the same level after half an hour, when Lewis Dunk cashed in a free kick from the edge of the penalty area after Mason’s whistle. Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, however, was still busy organizing at the goal post, causing Mason to whistle a second time before the ball had crossed the goal line.
An angry Lewis Dunk gives his thoughts on Lee Mason’s decision to disallow Brighton’s goal ?? “It is embarrassing, a horrendous decision, he blew his whistle and I took it … Why doesn’t he come and speak to the press like me?” ?? ?? @footballdaily pic.twitter.com/4Zok9K8sZz
– Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) February 27, 2021
As if that wasn’t confusing enough, Mason decided to award the goal after all, after which the VAR corrected the referee and rejected the tying run for the second time. The drama unfolded for Brighton, when both Danny Welbeck and Pascal Cross failed in the remainder of the match from eleven meters. Welbeck hit the post, Cross fired on the crossbar. It was the first time in Premier League history that two penalties were shot against the aluminum in one match. Joël Veltman started in the base at Brighton and took part in the entire match. With a win, Brighton had gained a little more air in the fight against relegation. West Bromwich did very good business in the battle for survival, but is still nineteenth.
The chaos led to a stir in England during the game, where Sky Sportspresenter Jeff Stelling did not mince words. “Mason looks like a schoolteacher,” said the sports journalist. “Why should the Brighton players tell him he’s already whistled? It’s embarrassing.” Gary Lineker also commented on the much-discussed relegation cracker. “Brighton is very good and dominates the game. In fact, they are so good that they don’t even score, while they score. ”
Dunk, the maker of the rejected goal, reacted afterwards with an anger. “It’s embarrassing,” said the Brighton center-back. “It’s a terrible decision. I asked the ref, ‘Can I take it?’ He whistled and I took him. Only because of the pressure from the side and the other players he rejects him again. ” Dunk is upset that referee Mason did not want to comment on camera. “Why doesn’t he come here to talk to the press like me?”