Did VAR get big calls right? Debate rages on after Champions League drama

Paris (AFP) – Neymar called the decision that led to Paris Saint-Germain being dumped out of the Champions League a “disgrace”, while elsewhere on Wednesday Roma were left raging — both clubs are out of Europe and both feel cheated by controversial VAR calls.

“It’s a disgrace. They get four guys who don’t understand football to watch a slow-motion replay in front of the TV,” the injured Neymar wrote on Instagram after watching PSG’s shock elimination against Manchester United.

PSG were wobbling and trailing 2-1 at the Parc des Princes when Slovenian referee Damir Skomina gave a penalty after reviewing the images when Presnel Kimpembe blocked an apparently wayward Diogo Dalot shot with his arm.

Marcus Rashford duly scored the penalty that dumped PSG out on away goals. But should such a crucial decision have been given?

“I am a big supporter of VAR and I stay a big supporter of VAR,” said PSG coach Thomas Tuchel, before admitting: “It was a big decision, a cruel decision.”

– ‘The law is wrong’ –

In England, amid euphoria about the manner in which a depleted United side had gone through, even former players of the Old Trafford club said the penalty should not have been given.

“I don’t care what any referee tells me, that just isn’t handball,” ex-United defender Rio Ferdinand said on BT Sport.

“I love it that it is handball but I don’t get it. The law is wrong.”

On the same channel, Michael Owen, another ex-United player, said: “I know there’ll be people who will say it’s a penalty but for me it’s not one in a million years.”

UEFA bowed to pressure by bringing forward the introduction of Video Assistant Referees into the Champions League from this season’s knockout rounds.

Back in September, they had announced it would come in from next season, but it was widely a success at the World Cup and is now used in many domestic leagues, including the top flights in Spain, Italy, Germany and France.

However, at the very least there remain teething problems when it comes to the interpretation of handball — only last weekend changes were announced to the law from next season, saying it will no longer have to be “deliberate”.

– Roma denounce ‘robbery’ –

In the meantime, there remained widespread disagreement over Wednesday’s crucial calls.

“What we’re finding with VAR is every ex-footballer thinks something is not a penalty but every referee thinks it is. There’s a huge disconnect and that is the worrying thing,” added Owen.

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2TsLA08