VAR continues to frustrate Premier League teams

Players react as they wait for referee Jonathan Moss (centre) to announce a VAR decision (AFP)

London - Play was stopped to check on Ruben Neves' second-half equaliser

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By AFP

Published: Tue 20 Aug 2019, 6:35 PM

Last updated: Tue 20 Aug 2019, 8:40 PM

Thousands of Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters howled at VAR on Monday while their team's manager pleaded for a solution to prevent the video review system sucking the passion out of Premier League football.
Making its debut in the English top flight this season, the Video Assistant Referee system deprived Wolves of a goal against Leicester City in their opening 0-0 away draw.
The Molineux faithful made their disparaging views on VAR abundantly clear during a heart-stopping couple of minutes in Monday's 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United when play was stopped to check on Ruben Neves' second-half equaliser.
Though the goal was allowed, and a possible offside by Joao Moutinho discounted, Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo still fretted afterwards that VAR was killing the game's passion.
"What I'm afraid is we will be afraid to celebrate the goal," he said. "This energy at Molineux, the sound, this atmosphere, you cannot lose it. They have to find a solution for it, please do it."
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said a VAR review had been justified for Neves' goal, but the process should be faster.
"We want it decided quickly but, of course, they are massive decisions," he said. "I'd rather have it the correct one than the wrong one, and make it in 15 seconds. The quicker it goes, the better it goes."
United had gone ahead through a first-half goal from Anthony Martial before Neves' stunning strike went in off the bar and Paul Pogba then missed a penalty for the visitors.
Meanwhile, Solskjaer refused to blame Pogba after the Manchester United star missed a penalty in Monday's 1-1 draw at Wolves after taking spot-kick duties from Marcus Rashford.
Pogba wasted a chance to give United their second successive Premier League win when his penalty was saved by Wolves keeper Rui Patricio.
It was the fourth missed penalty by Pogba since the start of last season. The France midfielder appeared to tell Rashford that he wanted to take it, even though his United teammate had scored from the spot against Chelsea last weekend.
United manager Solskjaer said he allows both Pogba and Rashford to take spot kicks.
"The two of them are designated the penalty shooters and it's up to them there and then who feels 'this is mine'," he said.
"Sometimes players just feel they are confident enough to score. Paul has scored so many penalties for us and today Rui Patricio made a good save.
"The two of them have been very confident. I like players with confidence and the feeling that 'I can do this'."
Former United star Gary Neville called on Solskjaer to resolve the issue before his team's next penalty.
"They should decide in the dressing room who is the penalty taker - it's embarrassing," Neville told Sky Sports.
"This is a Manchester United penalty, this not a tombola, this is not under-fives on the school field.
"Rashford scored last week - take the penalty. But there wasn't a leader out there. Something wasn't right."
Rashford revealed Pogba had said he wanted to take the kick and, publicly at least, the England striker had no problem with that.
"Paul wanted to take it, it's that simple. Everybody can miss a penalty. He's scored countless penalties for us so it's normal to miss one.
"I took one last week so for me it's no problem for him to take one this week.
"It's unfortunate he didn't score but it's not on him, it's as a team and we take it forward to the next game." 
 

AFP

Published: Tue 20 Aug 2019, 6:35 PM

Last updated: Tue 20 Aug 2019, 8:40 PM

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