BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — It took just 41 minutes for the restarted Premier League to create another big controversy over technology.
This time, it wasn’t a VAR decision that was the talking point. Instead, the typically flawless Hawk-Eye goal-line technology seemed to malfunction during the first game after a 100-day shutdown because of the coronavirus.
Sheffield United midfielder Oliver Norwood swung a dangerous free kick into the six-yard box of Aston Villa’s penalty area and the ball was collected by backpedaling Villa goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland.
However, Nyland was bundled into the sidenetting of the goal by a teammate and replays appeared to show the entire ball had crossed the line.
Sheffield United’s players celebrated what would have been the first goal after the resumption, but referee Michael Oliver didn’t award it.
Oliver pointed to his watch, suggesting it hadn’t vibrated to signal a goal had been awarded by Hawk-Eye.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder looked annoyed as the players came off the field at halftime, with the score at 0-0.
