October 21 – Another weekend, another raging VAR controversy, this time surrounding Liverpool’s high-profile globally televised fixture at Manchester United on Sunday with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp declaring the way the technology is being used in England does not make “too much sense”.
In the latest example of the video assistant referee upholding the on-field referee’s judgment, Klopp was fuming Liverpool were not awarded a free-kick for a “clear foul” on Divock Origi in the build-up to United’s first-half goal as his table-topping team’s 100% league record this season came to an end in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
VAR is supposed to come into play to rule on “clear and obvious errors” but in the Premier League almost every VAR incident this season has concerned offside or handball decisions. Only two ‘subjective decisions’ have been changed so far.
“”This is a problem we have to discuss,” the Liverpool boss told reporters. “I’m sure it was a foul. VAR is great for offside and handball but for these situations we have not got it right yet.”
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (pictured) disagreed with Klopp’s assessment and praised the referee for letting the game flow.
“We are not playing basketball,” he said. “It’s maybe a slight touch but it’s not a clear and obvious error. It’s still a man’s game with tackles allowed.”
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