13/05/2026
šØThe full VAR audio transcript regarding West Ham's correctly disallowed goal vs Arsenal:
VAR Darren England: Possible foul on keeper. Watch has gone.
AVAR Akil Howson: Goal given.
AR1 Dan Cook: I donāt see any foul on the goalkeeper.
REF Chris Kavanagh: On-field decision is goal.
VAR: Checking the on-field decision of goal. OK, letās play it through, letās play it through. Letās just get a feel now. So, the keeper thereā¦ Then itās just a shot. So, itās literally just a possible foul on Raya, what Iām seeing in terms of that.
AVAR: Yeah, and to make sure he doesnāt have it in his hand.
VAR: OK, letās get a tighter angle on the goalkeeper please. On the Arsenal goalkeeper.
RO: Yeah.
VAR: This one. Slow it down, frame by frame. For me, there is a foul. Potential foul with the arm. His hand is holding his arm down. Thatās impactful, for me. The left arm there, is holding, is across the body. Heās across the head and heās holding the left arm of Raya, there. Which impedes his ability to get to the ball properly. Doesnāt look that impactful from that angle.
RO: Iāve got a pole cam angle.
VAR: Give us pole cam.
AVAR: Itās like, Rayaā¦ Because that contact weāve got there, weāve gotā¦
VAR: Just keep delaying. Just checking possible foul on the goalkeeper.
AVAR: Youāve got that straight behind him as well, look.
VAR: Yeah.
RO: Iāll go back to the original angle.
VAR: Yeah. But this happens before.
RO: Do you want to see it at full speed?
VAR: Yes please. Is it impactful on the goalkeeper that, for me. Go back to the second angle you showed me, the second angle.
RO: No problem, just going to look now.
AVAR: Can you do a split screen on both of them as well?
VAR: This one here, this one. Yeah, give us a split screen. That one and then the first angle.
RO: OK, goal line?
VAR: No, sorry, this one and this one, thank you.
AVAR: I donāt like Trossard not facing the ball and youāve gotā¦ I agree, itās impactful, itās just everything else thatās going on as well. Letās say weāre saying thatās a foul, then what are we saying about Trossardās actions on the same player? What are we saying about Declan Rice behind?
VAR: Yeah. He still gets a hand to the ball, doesnāt he? When heās getting to the ball.
AVAR: Whatās your initial opinion as you watched it?
VAR: I think, for me, we send him for an on-field review to look at the possible foul on the goalkeeper. And then we get him to look at the other incidents as well. I think thatās the best decision in terms of this. OK.
Chris, Iām going to recommend an on-field review for a possible foul on the goalkeeper but there are some other incidents to look at while youāre at the monitor as well.
REF: OK.
VAR: So, Iām going to show you a possible foul on the goalkeeper.
RO: This angle?
REF: OK.
VAR: The left arm of Pablo comes across Raya and holds onto the left arm of Raya as he goes to win the ball.
REF: Yeah.
VAR: Iām showing you that now.
REF: I can see the clear holding on him across.
VAR: Yeah, but then Iām just going to show you some, obviously, other angles on that incident, of players.
REF: OK.
AVAR: Youāve got Declan Rice and youāve got Trossard.
REF: I donāt know what youāre trying to show me, give me a clue.
VAR: Trossard on Pablo. Just if you look at Trossard on Pablo. Give me a better angle on that.
VAR: Iāll get you a better angle.
REF: I donāt think thereās much in that at all, Iām happy with that.
VAR: Yeah, OK.
REF: Thatās nothing.
VAR: And then if you just want to consider the actions of Declan Rice on Mavropanos at the back. But the foul happens on the goalkeeper before.
REF: Before it, soā¦ After review, West Ham numberā¦
VAR: 19.
REF: 19. Foul. Just confirm his number again for me.
VAR: 19.
VAR: Yeah, confirmed.
REF: Mic open.
REF: After review, West Ham number 19 commits a foul on the goalkeeper. Final decision is direct free kick.
