Is VAR in crisis?
The introduction of VAR has unsurprisingly failed to remove all questionable incidents from the game, but this was a weekend where the technology seemed to cause the controversy rather than reduce it.
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A series of decisions that were either overturned thanks to the intervention of VAR or not given despite the presence of the review system infuriated managers of multiple teams, who were unable to contain their feelings post-match.
The incidents included:
- Maxwel Cornet’s late equaliser for West Ham at Chelsea being overturned for a foul on Edouard Mendy by Jarrod Bowen.
- Newcastle’s winning goal being overturned for a foul by Joe Willock on Vicente Guaita despite Tyrick Mitchell pushing the midfielder into the Crystal Palace goalkeeper.
- Leeds not being awarded a penalty for a tackle on Crysencio Summerville by Aaron Hickey in their defeat at Brentford.
- Philippe Coutinho’s goal against Manchester City being disallowed after the assistant referee incorrectly flagged for offside, with VAR unable to overturn the decision as the whistle was blown before the ball went in.
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David Moyes said it was a scandalous decision to rule out his side’s late equaliser against Chelsea, while Thomas Tuchel believed it was a clear foul on the goalkeeper
The decision to disallow Cornet’s goal was particularly egregious, given it appeared Mendy was barely touched by Bowen as he fumbled the ball into Hammers possession.
David Moyes called it “a ridiculously bad decision,” while Declan Rice tweeted it was “one of the worst VAR decisions made since it’s come into the game.”
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe was more understated when discussing the call that went against his side, but was still unhappy with the decision, saying: “It was a perfectly good goal in my opinion.
