'Anywhere else that’s a free kick' - Former referee weighs in on Brighton-Aston Villa VAR controversy

Referee Peter Walton gestures to the crowd as he leaves the field at half time in the English Premier League football match between Stoke City and Manchester City at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

Trailing 2-1, Aston Villa were awarded a penalty in stoppage time against Brighton on Saturday.

The decision was overturned by VAR after Michael Oliver consulted his pitchside screen, handing the Seagulls three controversial points at Villa Park.

“It is commendable that referees are going to look at their monitors,” former top-flight referee Walton said to The Times. “That is a huge positive though there is still a lot of misunderstanding about how VAR should operate.

“The [ncident was] hugely subjective. Why, then, [was] Michael Oliver told to consult the monitor? VAR should intervene only if the referee has made a clear error. (He) should have stuck with the original decision.

“Solly March got a touch of the ball but followed through heavily and caught Trézéguet on the shin. Anywhere else, that’s a free-kick. There was certainly not convincing evidence to show that Oliver had made a howler.”