That was quick

ON THE Tuesday of last week the use of the video assistant referee (VAR) had gone swimmingly and was praised for getting two big decisions right in the LeicesterFleetwood cup replay.

The next day all hell let loose following Chelsea’s fortunate defeat of Norwich in a game that saw three Chelsea players booked for diving and two of those receive second yellows and an early bath.

In the first instance Pedro clearly dived and was bang to rights. He would later earn a second yellow when stopping a late Norwich counter-attack.

The second incident saw Willian tumble over an outstretched leg. There may have been mild contact but the fact that Willian was already toppling before the contact clinched the deal.

Finally, Morata went down too easily after a defender put an arm on his shoulder, inviting the yellow card, then compounded this by giving the referee a mouthful of abuse justifying the second yellow.

The VAR was available to the officials for all these instances but the referee was satisfied that the incidents were clear-cut and was not required. The broader question here is surely why all the fuss about the use of a system, that worked pretty well at the Bridge, yet ignoring the elephant in the room, which saw three of the highest paid players in the world playing for one of the richest clubs in the world actively diving to win penalties to defeat a Norwich team that are minnows compared to the majesty that is Chelsea?

Ironically a few days later Chelsea were the beneficiaries of no VAR when Brighton were denied two strong-looking penalties by referee Jon Moss.

In these instances there was no question to be asked whether or not the Brighton player dived because he clearly hadn’t.

Are we now at a crossroads where some referees are afraid to make such decisions, especially against the big clubs?

Congestion charge

While Citeh seem to be running away with the title, things are very different at the other end of the table, with no less than 12 clubs looking anxiously at the fixture list.

With just 14 games to go, there are just eight points separating Everton in ninth and Swansea in 20th and just six between the Toffees and Southampton in 18th.

This span is unprecedented at this stage of the season and it’s fair to say that as well as the three clubs mentioned, Watford, West Ham, Bournemouth, Palace, Huddersfield, Newcastle, Brighton, Stoke and West Brom are in a dogfight, where literally two wins on the bounce can turn the season around while two defeats can spell potential disaster.

Tangerine dream

Sadly football lost another of its luminaries last week when Jimmy Armfield passed away at the age of 82. Armfield, who spent his entire playing career at Blackpool, was a cultured and classy right-back who captained England in the years leading up to 1966. I first saw him at the age of 10 when his bottom-of-thetable Blackpool side took advantage of Pat Jennings’s absence to win 3-1 at league leaders Spurs in 1966. If memory serves, he gave Jimmy Robertson nothing that day.

He retired after 627 games and later managed Leeds to the 1975 European Cup final, where a combination of Franz Beckenbauer and a corrupt referee ensured a 2-0 win for Bayern Munich. His next move was into the commentary box, where he established himself as a supreme radio commentator making full use of his vast knowledge of the game in a way that ensured that the listener didn’t feel like he or she was being patronised. A life well lived, RIP.

Team of the week

Lukasz Fabianski, Swansea; Nacho Monreal, Arsenal; Alfie Mawson, Swansea; Jan Vertonghen, Spurs; Ryan Bertrand, Southampton; James Ward-Prowse, Southampton; Willian, Chelsea; Mesut Özil, Arsenal; Ezequiel Schelotto, Brighton; Sergio Aguero, Citeh; Eden Hazard, Chelsea. Manager: Carlos Carvalhal, Swansea.

Quote of the week

“Andy Carroll without injuries would be Harry Kane.” If the Sun’s Neil Custis ever wants to take up another calling in life, may I suggest comedian?

Vintage quote of the week

“Carlton Palmer can trap the ball further than I can kick it.” Ron Atkinson. For a modern equivalent, think Romela Lukaku.

Mission statement of the week

“[To help] people all around the world experience the thrill of the beautiful game, towards the realisation of a prosperous society for all.” This catchy little missive is brought to you by Yanmar (I haven’t heard of them either) during the launch of their new official Manchester United YT359 tractor.

This week’s games to watch

FA Cup fourth round — Today: 2.30pm Peterborough v Leicester. 5pm Huddersfield v Birmingham, Hull v Forest, Middlesbrough v Brighton, Millwall v Rochdale, MK Dons v Coventry, Notts County v Swansea, Sheffield Utd v Preston, Southampton v Watford, Sheffield Weds v Reading, Wigan v West Ham; 7.30pm Newport v Spurs; 9.45pm Liverpool v West Brom. Tomorrow: 3.30pm Chelsea v Newcastle; 6pm Cardiff v Citeh.

Premier League — Tuesday: 9.45pm Swansea v Arsenal, West Ham v Palace; 10pm Huddersfield v Liverpool; Wednesday 9.45pm Chelsea v Bournemouth, Everton v Leicester, Newcastle v Burnley, Southampton v Brighton; 10pm Citeh v West Brom, Stoke v Watford, Spurs v United.

Standout games

Spurs at Newport on a rugby pitch, big potential here for a giant killing, and in the league Spurs v United. Two questions come to mind: will Mourinho start Alexis Sanchez? And if he does will he then send the doubledeckers back up the M1 and M6 and play an expansive game?

And finally

Last week’s question went thus: Nottingham Forest entertained Aston Villa in the Championship last weekend — what makes this particular fixture unique in European football?

The key words in the question are “in the Championship” because Forest against Villa is the only instance anywhere on the continent where two former European Cup winners face off in their country’s second-tier league division.

This week: Owen Hargreaves earned his first England caps before he ever actually played for an English club. In the ’60s another player did the same playing for Hibs before joining Arsenal via Torino. Name him.

Last weekend every Premier League game began with a minute’s applause for the recently deceased Cyrille Regis.

So on Saturday after watching the sad but uplifting spectacle in three live games, I was intrigued to see that the Olympique Lyonnais game with Paris Saint-Germain began the same way.

Naturellement my interest was piqued as I hit Google to see who they were commemorating. Turns out it was one Paul Bocuse who had died at the age of 92. “Who did he play for?” you may ask? Nobody — apparently Monsieur Bocuse was a revered Michelin-starred chef from the Nouvelle Cuisine school who was based in Lyon. We do it for footballers, the French do it for chefs, says it all really. Vive La Difference.

On Wednesday at midday Leeds United unveiled their new club crest that had been designed “after consulting with 10,000 fans”.

Ninety minutes later a petition to stop the club implementing the new crest had been signed by 10,068 fans (it really is that bad, heck it’s that bad I’d sign the petition). Barry Illingworth must be well happy.