Cadiz has issued a statement, demanding a replay of the final minutes of their game with Elche after VAR didn’t intervene in a late equalizer they conceded.
The club was minutes away from a crucial win in their fight against relegation on Monday night, leading 1-0 against bottom-side Elche when the visitors equalized courtesy of Ezequiel Ponce. A video making round online showed that Ponce came back from an offside position to help spark a move he eventually finished off with a bullet header. Cadiz were left fuming at VAR following the decision to allow Elche’s equaliser in last night’s 1-1 draw in La Liga. Replays showed that Ezequiel Ponce, who scored Elche’s goal, was offside in the build-up.pic.twitter.com/5AwPZSgbtG — Football España (@footballespana_) January 17, 2023 Reacting to this, Cadiz who are 18th on the La Liga table expressed disappointment that the goal was allowed to stand. The club also threatened legal action over the loss of the two points. The statement read; “Today, January 17, 2023, the legal services of CÁDIZ CF SAD have submitted to the competent federative authorities, a brief challenging the meeting held before ELCHE, C.F., S.A.D, by virtue of which the annulment is requested of the well-deserved match and its resumption from minute 81 of it, at which time the refereeing team validated the goal scored by the ELCHE, C.F., S.A.D. D. Ezequiel Ponce, despite being preceded by a resounding and flagrant offside, not susceptible to interpretation, as shown by the images of the match. 
“Quite the contrary, if necessary at the end of the season, depending on the sporting and economic damages that may be inferred from the final classification of CÁDIZ, C.F., S.A.D. In the First Division category, this Entity will evaluate the exercise of as many legal actions that assist it in Law, including the action of patrimonial responsibility against the persons, physical or legal, that in the last instance must respond for the damages and losses caused to CÁDIZ , C.F., S.A.D.”
“The Club has reviewed its CCTV footage to identify the supporter and will be working with the Met Police, Arsenal and Aaron Ramsdale to take the strongest possible action, including an immediate ban from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.” The Professional Footballers’ Association also released a statement which read; “Violence towards players is completely unacceptable. These types of incidents are happening far too often. “Players have a right to be safe in their place of work. When a player is attacked we expect the laws and regulations that are in place to protect them to be properly enforced. 
“As the players’ union we treat this as a priority issue. We will be continuing to work with the authorities to demand that players and staff are better protected in their place of work.” Also reacting to the incident, the English FA said in a statement; “We strongly condemn the incident involving a spectator that followed today’s Premier League fixture between Tottenham and Arsenal. This is wholly unacceptable behaviour and we will work together with the police, the relevant authorities and the clubs to ensure the appropriate action is taken.” Arsenal has now has 47 points from 18 games, eight ahead of second-placed Manchester City. 
Ahead of Manchester City’s derby clash with Manchester United this weekend, the club’s coach Pep Guardiola has revealed that he’s been pondering on some “ridiculous ideas”. 
Guardiola who admitted that he’s yet to review United’s recent games in order to come up with a firm game plan, might swing towards laying out a selection shock for the match at Old Trafford so that his players remain fresh. Addressing reporters, the Manchester City coach said; 
“I have a few ideas, thoughts – ridiculous ones against United – but still I didn’t watch their last games. “I have to see the way they play at home and if they change something. I still have to review it; that is why I don’t have a clear lineup [yet] against United.” 
