Controversial start to EPL as Hawk-Eye misses goal
Sheffield United denied two points that could yet prove decisive in Europe push
It took just 41 minutes for the restarted English Premier League to create another big controversy over technology. This time, it wasn’t a VAR decision that was the talking point. Instead, the typically reliable goalline technology was at fault during the first game after a 100-day shutdown because of the coronavirus.
Hawk-Eye was forced to “unreservedly apologise” after failing to see Aston Villa goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland carry the ball over his own goalline after catching an inswinging Sheffield United free kick.
The technology company acknowledged the ball had crossed the line and blamed the error on its seven cameras located in the stands being “significantly occluded” by players and the goal post.
“This level of occlusion has never been seen before in over 9000 matches that the Hawk-Eye Goalline Technology system has been in operation,” Hawk-Eye said in a statement.
The match finished 0-0, depriving Champions League-chasing Sheffield United of two points that could yet prove decisive in its attempt to qualify for the lucrative European competition.
“I think the goalkeeper was in the Holte End when he caught it, or dragged it back,” Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder said, referring to the giant stand at Villa Park. “My issue is obviously one of frustration. Seven cameras haven’t picked it up — the most technical league in the world — everything we see at every angle and it hasn’t seen a goal. That is disappointing from our point of view.”
After the backpedalling Nyland was bundled into the side-netting of the goal by a teammate and tried to act like he hadn’t taken the ball over the line, Sheffield players celebrated what would have been the first goal after the resumption of the league.
However, referee Michael Oliver didn’t award it. He pointed to his watch, suggesting it hadn’t vibrated to signal that a goal had been awarded by Hawk-Eye. VAR was not called upon to intervene, either.
● Manchester City scored the first goals the Premier League had seen in 100 days, with only health workers in the stands to applaud.
In protective clothing, they were among only 300 people allowed into the Etihad Stadium for the game against Arsenal which helped end the Premier League’s shutdown.
The 55,000 seats that would usually be filled were empty, mostly covered by banners. The only supporters seen celebrating goals from Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden during City’s 3-0 win were on big screens in the stands, streaming live from their homes.
The screens were also used to mourn some of those who died during the pandemic. The face of Glyn Pardoe, a former City player and coach, was shown three weeks after the virus killed him at the age of 73.
The teams also used the occasion to pay tribute to George Floyd, with the players taking a knee around the centre circle before kickoff.
All players also wore shirts with the text “Black Lives Matter” replacing the names on their backs.
It was Sterling who scored the Premier League’s first goal since March 9 by capitalising on an error by David Luiz in first-half stoppage time. The goal celebration featured a touch of elbows and a brief embrace to respect social distancing.
Substitutes also must remain two metres apart on the sidelines, leaving them sitting up in the stands closer to the press tribune than the bench.
The voices of radio commentators and the shouts between the players and coaches only punctuated the unique lack of atmosphere in the world’s biggest football league.
The medical staff, wearing protective equipment, twice had to enter the field in the opening 20 minutes when Arsenal players Granit Xhaka and Pablo Mari went down injured and had to come off.
Some in full white suits and face masks spent 10 minutes on the field in the second half to treat City defender Eric Garcia after a collision with goalkeeper Ederson. He was carried off on a stretcher.
Luiz made two appalling mistakes in a woeful 25-minute cameo to help City to a comfortable victory, thwarting Liverpool’s hopes of winning the title at this weekend’s Merseyside derby.