Premier League release statement on David Raya penalty decision during Arsenal vs Bournemouth
Latest Arsenal news and gossip as the Gunners were beaten by Bournemouth 2-0 in the Premier League at the Vitality Stadium
by Mark Wakefield · football.londonThe Premier League has confirmed why the decision to award a penalty for Bournemouth against Arsenal was upheld.
Saturday night saw the Gunners beaten 2-0 by the Cherries in the Premier League fixture at the Vitality Stadium.
Ryan Christie opened the scoring in the second half before fellow substitute Justin Kluivert doubled the home side's lead to ensure Arsenal returned to North London empty handed.
The defeat leaves Arsenal in third place in the Premier League table and missed the chance to leapfrog leaders Liverpool, who face Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
Arsenal had to play the majority of the game with just 10 players after William Saliba was sent off in the 30th minute for denying a goal scoring opportunity with a foul on Bournemouth striker Evanilson.
Bournemouth were awarded a spot-kick in the 77th minute after David Raya tackled Evanilson on the edge of the penalty area. Referee Rob Jones pointed to the spot and the decision was soon confirmed by VAR, with Jones also giving Raya a yellow card.
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The Premier League subsequently posted a statement on X, formerly Twitter, via its PL Match Centre account to explain the reason the penalty was given.
It was confirmed that the spot-kick was awarded after the contact during the challenge by Raya on Evanilson was "sufficient" for the penalty to be given.
"The referee awarded a penalty for a foul by Raya on Evanilson," the statement read. "The VAR checked and confirmed the referee’s call, deeming that contact was sufficient for a penalty."
Despite giving away a penalty, Raya was not handed a red card for the challenge on Evanlison due to the double jeopardy rule in the Premier League.
The law states: "Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned if the offence was an attempt to play the ball; in all other circumstances (e.g. holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc.) the offending player must be sent off."
The so-called double jeopardy rule has been introduced in recent seasons to prevent the same offence being punished by a penalty and a sending off. However, Saliba's red card means that he will serve a suspension in the Premier League, starting with next weekend's Premier League clash against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
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