Saved by ‘special talent’ – but did penalty award wrong Brighton?

Charalampos Kostoulas will never forget that time.

Brighton’s 18-year-old Greek forward opened his account at the Amex Stadium with an acrobatic overhead-kick equalizer in stoppage time.

The Seagulls lost their lead to a hotly contested first-half penalty when the substitute, who signed from Olympiakos for £29.78m in the summer, struck just as it seemed impossible.

After being found guilty of fouling Amine Adli in a video assistant referee (VAR) review, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler was full of praise for his teenage hero, but it still did not lessen his anger over the spot-kick award that gave Marcus Tavernier the equaliser.

He remarked, “It was a nice goal. We are all aware of his potential. However, “we all favor victory.”

The German responded, “No,” when asked if he thought it was a penalty. Talking with referees is challenging. They have their own opinions, and conversing with them is difficult. Even if we disagree, we must still accept it.

Before the start of the season, the referees told us, “A touch and a contact are not enough,” and that is exactly what they said. And that’s exactly the way it is in some circumstances.

Kostoulas, a Greek Under-21 international, made his professional debut in 2024 after graduating from the Olympiakos’ academy, scoring seven goals in 22 league games for the club.

If he received a salary of £1.7 million while playing for Brighton, the deal would become the best one for a Greek player.

He has made 17 appearances and scored two goals since joining Brighton, according to Brighton captain Lewis Dunk, who described him as a “special talent.”

Dunk remarked, “I’ve seen him score better in training, but that was unbelievable.

However, Tierney reviewed it on the pitchside monitor, reversed his decision, and was fined after being informed that contact had been made on the recommendation of VAR official Jarred Gillett.

After Tavernier slotted home the spot-kick, Bournemouth had the opportunity to win the game until Kostoulas’ late intervention.

Verbruggen’s high foot made the slightest contact with the goal, but Brighton’s staff, players, and supporters were upset about the decision because the ball appeared to be flying away harmlessly.

It was another decision that was the main discussion point on Monday night after a weekend that saw Manchester City protested and Diogo Dalot not receiving a penalty for their defeat to Manchester City.

Thierry Henry, a former Arsenal striker, stated to Sky Sports, “It is a penalty.” The ball is still in play when you’re lifting your leg as you hit the player. It is still in play, regardless of whether he can get it or not.

You’re looking at a situation slowly in the modern world, as we all know. It was given, too. It could have been avoided, and we can clearly see the contact, rather than arguing at this point whether it was a penalty or not.

Jamie Carragher, an ex-Liverpool defender, added, “These kinds of penalties probably wouldn’t have been given ten years ago.” You can still see the contact because the ball is still in play. Adli wouldn’t have been able to catch the ball.

In the first half of the Premier League season, video assistant referee errors had increased.

According to information gathered by BBC Sport from the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel, errors increased by 30% between the weekends from 10 to 13.

A pitchside review would have been unlikely if Referee Tierney had identified Verbruggen’s contact on Adli and simply stated “no penalty.” His description would have been a justifiable interpretation.

Tierney getting that wrong, according to the VAR’s intervention. The Bournemouth attacker was re-booked for simulation by Tierney. That was incorrect, which made it possible to review.

However, the VAR still felt that this was over the mark for a penalty. The contact was argued that Adli wouldn’t go down if it weren’t too minor.

A high boot caught Adli’s thigh after he had passed, which was a crucial part of Verbruggen’s challenge, which was made in an odd way.

Simeon, Woking: Get rid, another poor VAR decision, another week!

Russ, Upton: Football is simply not worth watching any longer, right? Why did the ref make the decision to reconsider after receiving that penalty? The striker isn’t receiving a shot off, b) isn’t getting to the ball once he’s pressed on, and c) isn’t making enough contact to send him down anyway! Turns out that having more refs makes things worse when they are today’s refs!

The issue is obvious and obvious, according to Phil in Toronto. Any minute of a violation is now viewed as being absolutely unacceptable. The ref has his eyes on the game and is best placed to make a call, even if technology can help, ball crossing the goal line, even semi-automatically offside. It is unclear when players are waiting while standing.