Sure it might well have been a clear error. But that arm was not in an unnatural position, mere inches from James' leg. So if it is not in an unnatural position, I don't see how the ref can determine the ball was handled deliberately from just a freeze frame. The ball might indeed have been handled deliberately, but ref should actually watch the video before deciding.
There's not a lot of official guidance on VAR, but the premier league has at least said "Real-time speed replays will be used initially to check for intensity. Slow-motion replays will be used to identify point of contact." -- https://www.premierleague.com/news/1297368 If just a freeze frame was considered, then there was no motion used at all in the VAR decision, let alone slow motion.
I think he relied on whatever was said in his ear about the arm moving forward. Disappointing because he had access to the video and is supposed to watch the video with his own eyes. The red card is not the problem for me. The problem for me is that we got a decision overturned based on the VIDEO assistant referee process, which has a "clear and obvious error" standard, with just a single image and no actual video being used.
Doesn't the letter of the law basically mandate looking at more than a freeze frame before awarding a straight red if the hand is that close to the body? Not sure how you can conclude deliberate intent without seeing if/when/how the arm moved. Could the ref have ended up deciding it was deliberate and therefore a straight red despite the ball deflecting off the leg first? Sure. But you gotta do work. Pretty sure the VAR rules say you look at slow motion replays (which include more than a single video frame) to determine the point of contact.
I may be biased but I am starting to wonder if our best lineup puts Mount in midfield and has two energizer bunnies in Pulisic and _______ up front next to Big Rom to receive balls to feet from Rom and constantly run at defenders.
This whole season has been a long new guy hazing ritual. My first four draft picks all have been disappointments or outright failures: Yelich, Bellinger, Rendon, Kershaw. It is a freaking miracle I might still end up .500 for the year.
Lukaku is apparently done. I would have preferred Haaland for 150m over Lukaku for 115m. And if the reason we didn't get Haaland is really our refusal to go from 130m to 150m, that could end up an all time mistake. But, Lukaku it is, so let's go Big Rom aka Baby Drogba.
The birth of my two children are probably the greatest moment of my life. So hey, I get it. But I think I have had 5 players go on the paternity list this year and miss games. What happened to players and their wives planning ahead so this kind of stuff happened in the off season? I'm fighting for my fantasy playoff life right now, damn it!