Another Matchweek, another round of VAR controversy in the Premier League. The technology that everyone in England cried for last season continues to spark rage from supporters over it is implementation in the world’s most popular league.
Video Assistant Referee returned to the headlines in Tottenham’s exciting clash with Leicester. It left its first imprint on the game in the first-half, ruling out a goal from Ndidi due to offside after everyone at the King Power Stadium thought he had handed the home side the lead.
However, it was its second-half intervention that left everyone with a bad taste in their mouth. Spurs, who were leading 1-0 at that time, thought they had gone 2-0 up after Serge Aurier found the back of the net. Little did they know about the drama that was about to unfold.
Replay showed that Heung-Min Son, who was involved in the build-up, was offside by a millimeter prior to the goal. As a result, VAR overturned the goal, causing rage on social media. Many flocked to Twitter to accuse the technology of ruining the game, pointing out that while clear penalties go unpunished, VAR cancels out goals at the slightest sight of offside despite there being a margin of error. Check out the best tweets below.
VAR once again proving to be a game wrecker not enhancer.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 21, 2019
But as it's wrecking Tottenham's afternoon, I'll give it a pass today.
Sorry VAR is ruining Football. @SpursOfficial 2nd goal ruled out because Son had a hair offside, give over, Football doesnt need this sort of scrutiny, just for obvious errors to be corrected
— Ian Abrahams (Moose) (@BroadcastMoose) September 21, 2019
VAR won't call blatant penalties, but happy to rule this offside... pic.twitter.com/yMxMn6WAk5
— James Nalton (@JDNalton) September 21, 2019
I love how VAR can't overturn horrific decisions like when Lascelles literally dived on the floor and wiped out Kane in the box but will spend five minutes drawing dotted lines and rule Son offside.
— Hotspur Edition (@HotspurEdition) September 21, 2019
I will NEVER be a fan of VAR in its present form. Not to give Spurs the 2nd goal is an absolute joke.
— Peter Schmeichel (@Pschmeichel1) September 21, 2019
Another goal cancelled by VAR courtesy of a decision the technology simply does not possess the accuracy to deliver.
— Duncan Castles (@DuncanCastles) September 21, 2019
Controversy after controversy. #LEITOThttps://t.co/cnUPninX5F pic.twitter.com/y6e55Udcz5
This is what football has become. It's abysmal. pic.twitter.com/MkdaN9jWy6
— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawESPN) September 21, 2019
Does anybody want this? #VAR pic.twitter.com/lS5GntrrOd
— FUN88 (@fun88eng) September 21, 2019
A reminder that with technology as it exists, offsides cannot be accurate to within 30cm, yet Son ruled offside by millimetres. A reminder as well that VAR as it is currently used did not see fouls on Haller or Matip (and others) to be clear and obvious. A nonsense.
— Jonathan Wilson (@jonawils) September 21, 2019
VAR is great, but this is just stupid. Margins are too small and the technology isn't flawless. pic.twitter.com/Ut1ihaiuHD
— Pochitivity (@Pochitivity) September 21, 2019
I am not anti VAR in theory but I don't like these pernickety offside calls. They have effectively changed level to offside.
— Jack Pitt-Brooke (@JackPittBrooke) September 21, 2019
VAR is ruling goals offside based on millimetre decisions, yet camera frames have a 30cm margin for error. The system is demonstrably a total nonsense. Never mind total inaction on overruling multiple penalty/red cards decision in recent weeks. Get it in the bin. pic.twitter.com/xTBESOIOG5
— Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin) September 21, 2019
The very worst of VAR. Absolutely nothing in the Son offside – millimetres maybe, and that's from one angle – but ruled out.
— Dan Kilpatrick (@Dan_KP) September 21, 2019
I'm not a Spurs fan. But that VAR call is anti football. As I keep saying, we've taken the common sense out of football. Which is madness.
— talkSPORTDrive (@talkSPORTDrive) September 21, 2019
Spurs went on to rue this decision as they conceded the equalizer almost immediately after. Maddison then scored a spectacular goal to award Leicester a 2-1 win over Pochettino’s side.