Fascinating audio reveals what referee Michael Oliver’s conversations with his assistants and the players in the build-up to awarding Chelsea penalty during FA Cup final win over Manchester United. What referees hear and say on the football pitch as they make a VAR decision has been revealed for the first time. And it shows how the man in the middle deals with the players, and his vast array of assistants as Eden Hazard is brought down by Phil Jones inside the box. As the Belgian bears down on goal, an assistant can be heard shouting 'DOGSO' (Denial of Goal Scoring Opportunity). 'Not now, not now,' replies Oliver, before Jones finally fouls Hazard inside the box, prompting Oliver to blow the whistle and point to the spot, in footage shared by NBCSN. The VAR immediately indicates that they will take a closer look at the incident, before both sets of players surround Oliver. Oliver can be heard telling the United players 'he's not got the ball', and also informing the Chelsea players that it was a 'genuine attempt to play the ball', prompting the award of a yellow card for the foul.
Audio transcript
Michael Oliver: Miss me Paul.
[Chelsea and United players tussle for ball, appeals for handball]
No, no, no, no. I don't know whose hand it hit.
[Ball played up field, Hazard runs clear as Jones chases]
Assistant: DOGSO, DOGSO.
Oliver: Not now, not now.
[Jones brings down Hazard in the box, penalty awarded]
Assistant: DOGSO, DOGSO Michael.
VAR: Just going to have a look at it.
[Players from both sides surround the referee]
Oliver: He's not got the ball.
[Referee addresses Chelsea players]
Listen, listen, listen. It's in the area, it's a genuine attempt to play the ball.
I'll talk to you, I'll talk to you. Listen, listen. Let's talk to Gary. Let me talk, let me talk to Gary.
[Cesc Fabregas wanders over to chat to the assistant referee]
Assistant: It's a genuine attempt for the ball. It's a genuine attempt for the ball inside the area.
Oliver: It's a genuine attempt for the ball. It's a yellow card.
He's come in from the side, Hazard's run is between, he doesn't touch the ball.
[United players query the use of VAR]
VAR looks at it already. VAR looks at it anyway.
[Referee talks to VAR]
Just to confirm Neil, check complete?
VAR: Check complete.
Oliver: Penalty check, fine. Penalty is correct.
Phil Jones, No 4, yellow card, genuine attempt to play the ball, didn't win it.
[Talks to penalty taker and goalkeeper]
Eden, whistle. David, whistle. He's in.
[Tells players not to encroach]
Phil, stay out. Paul, stay out. Jesse, stay out.
Source: DailyMail
