Ange Postecoglou: Tottenham boss says VAR should be abandoned because technology is not suitable for football
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou believes VAR should be scrapped in the Premier League amid ongoing debate over the use of the technology.
Spurs earned a hugely controversial 2-1 victory over Liverpool last Saturday after Luis Diaz’s 34th-minute goal to make it 0-0 was incorrectly ruled out for offside, with Professional Game Match Officials Limited subsequently admitting that a “significant human error” had occurred. .
Postecoglou believes the error was due to the VAR room making a hasty decision to avoid a long delay which disrupts the “frenetic pace” of football.
Asked if VAR should be scrapped, the Australian replied: “I would in its current form. I just don’t think the technology is ready for our game.
“I have zero against goal-line technology. It’s a no-brainer and it works for our game.
“Our game is unique. People say, ‘Let’s let the referees explain their decisions.’ Oh my God, seriously? Can you imagine sitting there listening to a referee explain every decision in the game?
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Former international rugby union referee Nigel Owens believes the VAR process in football should be heard by supporters as it happens, which would improve communication between officials .
“I’m going to the football field on Sunday. I love American football. But it’s three and a half hours. The measure of who was a good referee was one you never noticed and now we’re trying to figure it out. make the stars of the show.
“We analyze yellow cards in slow motion. We as coaches and players are the worst because we talk about integrity but I bet if you watch a game tonight, from the first throw-in, both teams will appeal. We are trying to take advantage of it and there is nothing wrong with that.
“With VAR, the more we use it, the worse it will get. Clear and obvious error? It seems like everything is being scrutinized.
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Mike Wedderburn takes a closer look at the video released by PGMOL following VAR error in disallowing Liverpool’s goal against Tottenham
“It’s not our game. We’re not rugby – we don’t have those saves. What I’ve always loved about our game – especially in England – is the frenetic pace. Why are we trying to eliminate that? None of us liked it when they took too long to make a decision and last week it seemed like they were rushing. Maybe that’s a consequence.
“This suggests to me that the technology in its current form is not suitable for our game, but I know I will be in the minority with that.”
He added: “I don’t know what the game will look like in 20 years and I’m not sure I’ll like it.”
Angel: Klopp is wrong to propose a replay
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Jurgen Klopp has called for a replay of Saturday’s Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham after Luis Diaz’s goal was wrongly ruled out following a VAR error.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on Wednesday suggested the game against Tottenham be replayed after Diaz’s goal was wrongly disallowed by the video assistant referee.
But Postecoglou disagrees with German calls for a replay.
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Sky Sports News’ Melissa Reddy discusses the possibility of Liverpool’s match against Tottenham being replayed, following VAR controversy
Postecoglou said: “There has to be some sort of threshold and I don’t think one mistake is the threshold for that.
“If we’ve strayed from integrity or we’ve twisted the law, then maybe there’s something there, but at the end of the day, when you strip all that away, it’s a mistake.
“It was unique and unprecedented, but it was still a mistake.
“If your threshold for a replay is individual errors, then that’s 365 games a year, I think.”
Sky Sports News understands that any request from Liverpool to replay the match would be rejected.
Postecoglou: Spurs unlikely to let Liverpool score after VAR error
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Postecoglou gives his views on the incorrect VAR decision against Liverpool in their match last weekend
Postecoglou also said it was unlikely he would have allowed Liverpool to score after Diaz’s goal was wrongly disallowed against them.
Asked if he would have let Liverpool score if the officials had given him the chance, Postecoglou replied: “I just don’t see that.
“If we want managers to be the arbiters of this sort of thing… we have heavy responsibilities in our football clubs, but we are not the custodians.
“I would not make a decision that could potentially bring down a club because of my beliefs.
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Jamie Carragher claims Jurgen Klopp will look to create a siege mentality at Liverpool after Luis Diaz’s goal against Tottenham was wrongly ruled out.
“At that moment, if anyone could tell me that they could explain everything that happened in the space of 30 seconds…I had to make a decision and that wasn’t going to happen.
“It’s different if it’s something clear. It was a big mistake due to a lack of communication, but it wasn’t something easily explainable. If it was easily explainable, I guess there would have been more tumult than there was.”