The Premier League has issued an official statement following a technical failure that disrupted Newcastle United’s match against Chelsea, after communication issues affected the use of matchday technology.
The incident occurred during a key moment in the game when play was briefly halted, causing confusion among supporters inside St James’ Park and viewers watching on television.
What went wrong during the match?
According to the Premier League, the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in communication between the video assistant referee (VAR) hub and the on-field referee.
As a result, match officials were unable to receive immediate confirmation from the VAR system, forcing a short delay while the issue was resolved. Play resumed once communication was restored, and the match continued without further interruption.
Premier League statement explained
In its statement, the Premier League confirmed the issue was technical in nature and not related to human error. Officials also confirmed the incident will be reviewed as part of standard post-match procedures.
“The Premier League is aware of a technical issue that affected communication during the match,” the statement read. “This will be reviewed in line with our normal processes.”
The league added that such incidents remain rare, despite the growing reliance on technology in modern football.
Growing reliance on technology under scrutiny
The delay has once again highlighted concerns around football’s dependence on technology, particularly when systems fail during high-profile matches.
While VAR and related tools are designed to improve decision-making, moments like this underline the importance of reliable backup systems to avoid unnecessary stoppages and confusion.
Pundits and supporters reacted quickly online, with many questioning how technical problems can still occur at the top level of the game.
No impact on result, but review confirmed
Importantly, the Premier League confirmed that the issue did not affect the outcome of the match. However, the incident will still be reviewed to ensure lessons are learned and improvements made where possible.
For both Newcastle United and Chelsea, attention has now returned to football matters, but the episode serves as another reminder that even the most advanced systems are not immune to failure.
As technology continues to play a central role in Premier League officiating, ensuring reliability and transparency remains a priority for competition organisers.