A decision is reviewed by VAR during the FA Cup fifth round replay between Tottenham and Rochdale
Tottenham beat Rochdale 6-1 in the FA Cup fifth round replay last night but today’s talk is not about Fernando Llorente’s hat-trick, it’s about the “comical” and “embarrassing” video assistant referee (VAR) decisions that overshadowed the Wembley encounter.
“Controversy dominated” the first half of last night’s match, the BBC says, when a goal was disallowed and a penalty was overturned after it was scored. An early strike by Erik Lamela was first chalked off after Llorente was adjudged to have fouled a defender in the build-up and then Son Heung-min’s penalty was overuled after he illegally “feinted” in the run-up to his spot-kick.
The Daily Mail says that match referee Paul Tierney was jeered at by fans for his constant use of VAR in the first 45 minutes of the replay.
Fans inside Wembley weren’t the only ones who were frustrated by the use of VAR. Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino said the first-half was “embarrassing”, BT Sport pundit Jermaine Jenas called it an “absolute shambles” while The Times said that “chaos and confusion” reigned as VAR took centre stage at Wembley.
"Comical" and "embarrassing" VAR dominated the first half at Wembley on Wednesday night.
Here's how it unfolded: https://t.co/VRM5cBTQwZ pic.twitter.com/2ny3gnUmlo— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) March 1, 2018
Speaking to the BBC after the cup win, Pochettino said: “The first half was a little bit embarrassing for everyone. I am not sure that system is going to help. I think football is about emotion.
“I am for technology but be careful not to change the game and kill the emotion. My worry is we are talking about a machine and not football.
“If we are going to kill emotion, it’s not so happy what we have seen. My opinion is we have the best referees in Europe. The referee is the boss on the pitch and has the last word always.”
Former England and Spurs midfielder Jenas added: “VAR could be so good for the game. It’s comical at times, how long it’s taking and nobody knows what’s going on.”
.@martinkeown5: 'There is a real danger that VAR could turn what is a great spectacle into a farce' #TackleKeown https://t.co/KDigf98QuS pic.twitter.com/AiTPcqZWpD
— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) March 1, 2018
When is VAR used?
Introduced in England this season in the FA Cup and the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, the VAR system is used for “four key on-field incidents”, says The Sun:
- Awarding goals
- Penalty decisions
- Red card decisions
- Cases of mistaken identity
What do the fans think?
The Times says that English football’s experiment with VAR “descended into chaos” during the Spurs-Rochdale clash. But what did players, pundits and fans think?
We round up the best reactions on Twitter:
Former Spurs and Argentina legend Ossie Ardiles branded VAR a farce.
Doesnt matter what the result is, VAR is making the best game in the world and the game we love so much degenerate into a farce. Just a mockery of a game.
— osvaldo ardiles (@osvaldooardiles) February 28, 2018
“VAR, you were hopeless… again,” said Alan Shearer.
Well done @SpursOfficial and well done @officiallydale and well done to the 25,000 fans who made the effort. On another note VAR you were HOPELESS AGAIN. #TOTROC
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) February 28, 2018
Spurs defender Danny Rose didn’t hold back.
"Shambolic, laughable, an absolute disgrace!"#THFC defender Danny Rose is not a fan of VAR... %uD83D%uDE21
Full quotes here: https://t.co/qDQCUPT8Rg pic.twitter.com/OgNnXIWPKP— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) March 1, 2018
When Saturday Comes writer Sean Cole says football’s culture of blaming the referee must end.
Football doesn%u2019t need VAR %u2013 it needs an end to the culture of blaming the referee | by @seanccole from WSC 373 https://t.co/wlBfnpE154 pic.twitter.com/gLBgvRTIGL
— When Saturday Comes (@WSC_magazine) March 1, 2018
Gary Lineker didn’t get his wish.
All we need now is for VAR to postpone the game.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) February 28, 2018
This settles it for one fan.
Final word for now on VAR after last night's #Spurs game (day job beckons). The fact everyone is talking about VAR and not the game of football settles it for me.
— Martin Cloake (@MartinCloake) March 1, 2018
A golden rule for sport.
My golden rule for sport: if you can't explain a new law or procedure in a sentence, or quicker than it takes to apply, it should not happen. So bye bye VAR, DRS (& all track cycling rules)
— Paul Kelso (@pkelso) March 1, 2018
VAR needs work and refining.
Yes, VAR needs work and refining. But to suggest football is better when refs get it wrong, so we may as well scrap it, is beyond lunacy, given how much more is at stake in football than it was when we started watching it many years ago.
— North Bank Nadim (@NorthBankNadim) March 1, 2018
“Annoying and slows the game down”.
Really felt like VAR would help Football but right now finding it annoying and slowing the game down too much.... agree?
— Matt Craig (@MattHDGamer) March 1, 2018
Incorporate a review system like tennis.
VAR should incorporate a review system like tennis. Give each team 1 review each per game. If you review and are successful you keep your review.
Also the ref using the VAR tech needs to be quicker #sloooowwww— Paul Watson (@paulwat92) March 1, 2018
Don’t fix it if it’s not broken.
We%u2019ve already got the best game in the world don%u2019t try fix it if it%u2019s not broken... VAR needs to do one!! Just let us play football the talking points controversy and human error is what makes it so special!!
— Tom Cairney (@ThomasCairney) February 28, 2018
No comments: