VAR Wars: The Saga Continues starring Sarri and Pochettino

Usually the controversy is between two managers disagreeing over a refereeing decision. When two respected opposing managers both have a problem with the way VAR is used, then maybe it’s finally time for VAR to get a review of its own.

It’s no secret that I’m skeptical about VAR. I’ve written about the subject a couple of times before.

As a referee, I saw the inconsistencies with how the law would be applied. Here we are a year on and still having big decisions in major games used inconsistently.

It is a trial, and to some extent the whole point of trial periods is error and development.

For the sake of keeping this brief, we won’t even consider if the decision was correct or not.

Maurizio Says

Sarri highlighted a glaring error in the application. An Assistant Referee should signal for offside (if they believe it is offside) but not flag if the decision is tight.

The assistant referee flagged for offside on Spurs’ star striker Harry Kane, which means the assistant has to remain stationary and cannot stay with play. Play then continued, and a crucial penalty decision ensued.

So the assistant was technically at fault since the decision was clearly tight enough for VAR involvement.

Sarri blames the complicated system however, not the officials. In his post-match interview, Sarri concedes it’s difficult for everyone involved, including the referees.

And Mauricio agrees

Even Pochettino, whose side benefitted from the decision, said “I do not like” the way it was decided.

Pochettino said post match (BBC Sports):

"“We have six months to improve the system.“I don’t think English referees are able to use the system.“If you are not sure with the system, as a player you have to follow the ball and at the end of the action decide. But the linesman stopped and didn’t follow the ball – for our defenders it was offside. I don’t know about the goalkeeper but sure the defenders were affected.“There is a lot of work to do.“It’s very strange in the Premier League there isn’t VAR and in the Carabao Cup there is the system. It’s very strange for us, the players and referees.”“I don’t like VAR – nobody does!”"

Even if technically, the assistant referee was at fault, it is questionable that referee Michael Oliver played on without the help of his assistant referee.

In his defence, knowing full well he has VAR to fall back on, he doesn’t need any assistance. He doesn’t even need to make decisions himself. He could just go to VAR if he really wanted to. (Regardless of any law, the authority of the referee is final.)

But to criticise him, in no other situation in a Top Flight game would a referee overrule his assistant on an offside decision, so why make that decision now?

The VAR laws need review. The current system has clear and obvious errors.