When assessing DOGSO referees are told to imagine the scenario without the defender at the point of the foul. <\/p>\n
The ball was in front of Thiago, there was no other defender in close proximity and play was a few yards outside the area. <\/p>\n
Thiago would surely have collected the ball, run forward a few yards and taken a shot.<\/p>\n
That Romero came away with the ball has probably given the VAR some doubts that Thiago would take control. It gave the perception that play would not have continued forward.<\/p>\n
However, this happens after the foul and the ball only stopped because Romero landed on it. A DOGSO red card appears to be the more logical outcome.<\/p>\n
While the ball did touch Romero’s arm it was accidental and would not be considered handball.<\/p>\n
It could have been Romero’s third red card in under a month. <\/p>\n
Andrews was annoyed that Romero was not sent off when the two teams met on 6 December. Again the Argentine defender had made a challenge on Thiago.<\/p>\n
It was a scissors-style tackle which Andrews felt was a “very easy one” for the officials. <\/p>\n
The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel voted 3-2 that Romero should have been sent off by referee Rob Jones. But it was a 4-1 vote that the VAR, Tim Wood, was right not to intervene and advise a red card. <\/p>\n