Tech trouble leaves Chelsea game ref without comms

During Sunday's Chelsea vs. Brighton Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, referee Michael Oliver, along with his assistants Stuart Burt, James Mainwaring, and fourth official Tom Bramall, faced communication issues without their radio packs. For 45 minutes of the 4-3 victory, the officials had to rely on traditional methods without the aid of radio technology for what may be the first time in 20 years.

This situation arose due to problems with the battery packs and communication link in the referee's device. The crowd noise was also interfering, making it difficult for Oliver and his team to communicate effectively. As a result, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Andrew Kitchen had to work independently, using a back-up system based on the referee's assessments and sending messages to the watch.

This led to a different approach for the VAR, focusing solely on his own observations rather than incorporating the referee's perspective. Despite the challenges, Oliver and his colleagues might have appreciated the simplicity of returning to a more basic setup reminiscent of their early grassroots experiences.