Arsenal FC vs. Manchester United (The Emirates FA Cup): report on the performance by Craig Pawson

A big tie already has been drawn for the fourth round in this season's Emirates FA Cup. Arsenal FC faced Manchester United, still to concede a defeat ever since the arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to the club. Being a cup tie, much was at stake for that match. Reasonably, the FA decided to appoint one of their most entrusted referees, 39-year-old Craig Pawson.

Craig Pawson took charge of Arsenal vs. Manchester United

Let's start off with a first incident, which occurred after only 8 minutes of play. In a challenge between Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey and ManU's Jesse Lingard, Ramsey receives a kick by Lingard with his knee into the back of the head. Craig Pawson deemed the incident as accidental. Looking at the replay, one could agree with this interpretation, however some could also suggest that there was a deliberate nature to this kick (which could be then deemed as a violent conduct). VAR also decided not to intervene, and was right to do so, since there is no clear and obvious error in the interpretation of Craig Pawson.

Craig Pawson did not face that many challenges in that match, which was physically nevertheless quite demanding. His disciplinary line was clear and the following cautions were absolutely rightly awarded by the referee:

=> in 56', Laurent Koscielny was rightly booked for stopping a promising attack. 

=> in 68', Ashley Young received a yellow card for deliberate handball, stopping a promising attack.

=> in 75', Jesse Lingard received his booking after heavily shouting at the referee after he's made a decision. In the replays, one can guess by lip-reading that he said something like "f*** off" to the referee.

=> in 90+1', Bendouzi received his yellow card after a late tackle on Paul Pogba.

The match was ready to boil over at the end of the second half, at 86', when a mass-confrontation started after an incident between Sead Kolasinac and Marcus Rashford. Both Craig Pawson and his assistant referee, Eddie Smart, were challenged in that situation and both discuss about the disciplinary action. As we can see in replays, Kolasinac and Rashford headbutt each other easily, resulting in a yellow card for both players. A situation which has been well-managed by the refereeing team, who was always calm and who worked very well together in order to make things calm down. The decision to book the players was also confirmed by the video assistant referee, Chris Kavanagh. A decision on which we can agree, a direct red card for both players would be too harsh, considering the intensity of their headbutts. 

The most impressive actors however during this FA Cup tie were undoubtedly the assistant referees, Eddie Smart and Constantine Hatzidakis, who made three EXCELLENT onside decisions, always before a goal was scored (before 0-1, before 0-2 and before 1-2). As French people would say, chapeau for having made these superb calls.

On a conclusive note, Craig Pawson and his team can be very satisfied after their strong teamwork at Emirates Stadium. No doubt - and also given previous appointments in the past years - that Craig Pawson is a serious candidate (he could even be THE candidate) to officiate the FA Cup Final at the end of this season. Yesterday's performance can be seen as a very good application for that final match at Wembley.