The Premier League released an in-game statement during Brighton's 0-0 draw with Brentford over an incident involving Joao Pedro - and fans are not happy.
The Seagulls made it six games without a win with the stalemate at the Amex Stadium, though Fabian Hurzeler's side had 15 shots on goal in the first half.
They couldn't make that dominance count, however, though are in the top 10 and just three points behind Bournemouth, who occupy the Conference League qualification spot in sixth place.
Advert
Brighton were arguably fortunate to finish the game with 10 players after an incident involving forward Joao Pedro in the second half.
Pedro aimed an elbow towards the head of Brentford midfielder Yehor Yarmoliuk, but failed to connect with the Ukrainian. It is unclear whether he intended to make contact.
VAR checked the incident and decided not to recommend that the referee show a red card to the Brighton forward.
In an official statement, the Premier League's Match Centre Twitter account said: "The referee's call of no red card to Joao Pedro for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed the referee's call was not clearly and obviously wrong."
Advert
IFAB's Laws of the Game for the 2024/25 season defines violent conduct as 'when a player uses or attempts to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball, or against a team-mate, team official, match official, spectator or any other person, regardless of whether contact is made'.
As such, fans were left convinced that VAR should have intervened and shown Pedro a straight red card, with the incident drawing comparisons to Aston Villa star Jhon Duran's sending off for violent conduct against Newcastle on Boxing Day.
Villa have since had an appeal against the decision - which was criticised by manager Unai Emery - rejected, and Duran will serve a three-match ban.
On the Pedro statement, one fan wrote: "This is one of the worst calls of the season."
Advert
A second added: "So players can throw a punch, headbutt or elbow so long as it doesn't make contact with an opponent. Laughable."
A third stated: "The rules literally state 'or attempts to use', how the ref and VAR looked at it and didn't send Pedro off I don't know."
And a fourth said: "Nothing to see here yet Duran gets a three-match ban."
Topics: Premier League, Brighton And Hove Albion, Brentford, Fan Reactions
Ryan Smart