Referee Tierney makes Premier League history by consulting pitch side monitor before sending off Norwich’s Godfrey

PREMIER LEAGUE referee Paul Tierney made history by being the first to consult the pitch side monitor before making a decision. The experienced whistler showed Norwich defender Ben Godfrey a red card after consulting the screen on 76 minutes. Initially Godfrey was booked for a lunging tackle on Callum Wilson, but VAR showed it was […]

PREMIER LEAGUE referee Paul Tierney made history by being the first to consult the pitch side monitor before making a decision.

The experienced whistler showed Norwich defender Ben Godfrey a red card after consulting the screen on 76 minutes.

Rex Features

Paul Tierney made history by being the first Premier League ref to check the pitch side monitor[/caption]

Rex Features

He overturned his first decision to give a yellow and gave Ben Godfrey a red[/caption]

Reuters

Tierney had sent Steve Cook off earlier in the game[/caption]

Initially Godfrey was booked for a lunging tackle on Callum Wilson, but VAR showed it was late and that he caught the striker’s ankle.

After Stockley Park officials suggested he take another look, Tierney ran to the touchline to watch a replay himself.

And having seen the footage he could not see in real time – changed his decision to a red.

Many fans compared the tackle to the one which saw Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sent off for Arsenal at Everton last weekend.

Supporters online reacted in mixed fashion to the news the pitch side screen had been used.

When Norwich tweeted the update to their fans, one simply put: “F*** VAR.”

But others remained more level-headed and said: “Hey look it works!”

Gerard added: “Was the correct decision, amazing what happens when it’s used correctly.”

Norwich eventually won the relegation battle 1-0 against Bournemouth.