FORMER Premier League referee hinted at clubs making a major tactical change because “we don’t want goals ruled out for those situations”.

Mark Halsey appeared on the latest episode of SunSport’s The Whisteblower as he ran the rule over the key refereeing decisions from the weekend.

Sky Sports

Manchester City’s late goal at Wolves was originally ruled out before VAR intervened[/caption]

AFP

Ex-Premier League referee Mark Halsey reckons the right decision was made in the end[/caption]

And high on the agenda was John Stones’ controversial winner at Wolves.

The Manchester City defender powered home a thunderous header in injury time.

However, after plenty of confusion, the goal was originally chalked off when the referees concluded there was an offside against Bernardo Silva.

Silva tussled with Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa as the ball came in and was in an offside position when it flew into the back of the net.

But following a lengthy VAR review, the goal was allowed to stand – because Silva was adjudged to be out of Sa’s line of sight and not impacting his compatriot once Stones headed goalwards.

So despite the complaints of Gary O’Neil, Halsey was pleased to see the goal given.

He said: “I think the VAR was absolutely spot on to recommend a review for Chris Kavanagh to go and have a look because when you do see the replay, you know straight away that Silva hasn’t impacted on the goalkeeper with being in his line of vision.

“He just moves out of the way straight away. So, for me, I think the correct decision was made and that’s what we want to see and that is what VAR is there for.

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“When the ball comes in, he can quite rightly stand there. When John Stones headers that ball, is he interfering with an opponent? Does he impact on his line of vision? 

“You can clearly see, no, he doesn’t. And you can clearly see that the keeper sees the ball all the way.

“It’s just a great header from John Stones and, in my opinion, the goal was correctly given. We do not want to see goals ruled out for those sorts of situations.”

Players cannot be offside directly from the original kick and corners.

So Silva getting away with his antics at Molineux could prompt more teams into trying similar tactics at corners to disrupt goalkeepers – before ducking out in time.

So Silva getting away with his antics at Molineux could prompt more teams into trying similar tactics at corners to disrupt goalkeepers – before ducking out in time.

Pressed on the issue, Halsey added: “Listen, there’s always a little bit of contact going on in the box and all the time you see goalkeepers pushing players, don’t you? 

“They push them out of the way just before the corner’s taken or while the corner comes across. 

“So, for me, that’s normal contact. And yes, if that’s what the tactics they employ in other clubs, then so be it.

“But we do not want to see goals ruled out of that nature.”

Halsey also had his say on the William Saliba red card at Bournemouth.

The Frenchman received his marching orders after half an hour after pulling back Evanilson just into the Arsenal half – but was the last man and was deemed to be denying a goal-scoring opportunity.

But Halsey would have preferred the referee to stick with his original call of a yellow card.

The ex-Prem official said: “Rob Jones straight away showed a yellow card. Exactly what I would have done in that situation.

“Was it a clear and obvious error by Rob Jones? In my opinion, no. I thought he got it spot on.

“For me, there’s doubt there to whether that was an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

“And we keep hearing about Howard Webb saying we don’t want VAR getting involved in subjective decisions. Well, for me, that was subjective.

“VAR shouldn’t have got involved. It wasn’t a clear and obvious error, in my opinion, from Rob Jones.

“We should have stuck with the on-field referee decision of a yellow card.”

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The referees were happy Bernardo Silva got out of the way[/caption]

PA

Stones celebrates the important win[/caption]

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Halsey believes William Saliba should have been allowed to stay on the field at Bournemouth[/caption]

BELLA Maclean’s acting career has already included some big TV credits.

You may recognise her from Netflix‘s Sex Education as well as now starring in Disney + show Rivals. Here’s everything you need to know about the rising star.

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Bella used to live in New York[/caption]

Bella spent the first 10 years of her life in New York where her parents worked.

However, they then moved back to the UK which is where Bella’s acting career began as she landed herself a place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

It was in her last year at the school that she managed to get her foot in the door of the acting world.

Acting roles

Before leaving college, Bella was due to star in the musical Spring Awakening at the Almeida Theatre in London.

However, the coronavirus pandemic meant that just some of the shows were able to go ahead.

She already had some film experience before she graduated in 2020 as she starred in two short films while she studied.

Bella appeared in Silent Witness as Sara Mendes in series 26 where she played the sister of Fiona.

Breakout role

Bella’s arguably biggest role to date is in the final season of Netflix‘s Sex Education as Jem.

Jem was employed at her father’s farm where she taught horse riding to children and developed a friendship and relationship with Adam.

Bella’s latest role is starring in Disney + show Rivals.

Having been dubbed one of the raciest shows on TV, Bella takes on the character of Taggie who is the eldest daughter of Declan and Maud.

The eight part series is based on a Dame Jilly Cooper book.

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Bella is starring in Rivals[/caption]

Despite just being 20, Taggie appears to be the most responsible member of the O’Hara family as she wants to have her own catering business and to find her ideal romantic partner.

Life away from fame

Bella is currently living in West London so she can be closer to acting opportunities.

She revealed in October 2024 to the Standard that many people have been getting her age wrong.

She said that it is often reported that she is 23 but she is actually 26 years old.

“I don’t know where anyone got that from, even people in the cast keep saying that after reading it online. I’m 26,” Bella confirmed.

It was never part of the plan.

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