SCOTT PARKER slammed VAR for ‘killing’ the excitement of football after Fulham were denied a precious point against Spurs.
Video checks ruled out Josh Maja’s 63rd minute goal for handball by team-mate Mario Lemina during the build up.
Fulham were denied a precious point after VAR deemed Lemina had used his arm before the goal was scoredCredit: PA:Press Association
Josh Maja points to his arm after his goal was ruled outCredit: EPA
The decision was even more cruel as struggling Fulham were sunk by an own-goal from defender Tosin Adarabioyo in the first half despite a gusty performance.
Former Prem ref Mark Halsey told SunSport “the law is an ass.”
And Fulham boss Parker agreed, saying: “I understand why the goal was disallowed, but I don’t agree with it.
“We are trying to make the game so pure and sterile, and trying to control every moment.
“What we want is goals and excitement and VAR is killing every bit of that and the raw emotion of the game that we absolutely love. We are going to get to a point where there will be no emotion in the game.
“Tonight was about common sense and we did enough to win the game because we were superb in the second half.
“When I look at some of the decisions this season we have been on the wrong end of them. Newcastle and the penalty against Liverpool springs to mind.
“Maybe there should be more common sense applied. Let the referees referee. They have years of experience.
“We are losing the raw emotion of the game we love. They are trying to control every aspect of the game to a tee.”
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Mark Halsey’s view
FULHAM’S second half goal against Tottenham was correctly disallowed for a handball in the build-up by Mario Lemina
VAR official Jarred Gillett made the right call as per Law 12: handling the ball to help referee David Coote, who ruled out Josh Maja’s strike.
The ball accidentally hit attacker Lemina’s arm even though the ball was blasted at him and his arm was in a natural position down by his side.
The law is an ass and the bizarre reality at the moment is there’s one handball law for attackers and another for defenders inside the penalty box.
In the example above, if the ball had hit a defender’s arm then a penalty would not have been given.
Midfielder Lemina’s arm was in a natural position when it was struck by a clearance from Spurs’ Davinson Sanchez but the handball law meant it was scrubbed because it rebounded to Maja to score.
The incident is the latest controversy to surround VAR and the ongoing battle to convince players and managers that it is the best way forward.
Tottenham claimed a second successive Premier League win for the first time in more than four months thanks to the own goal.
Dele Alli started his first league game since the season opener back in September and was praised for his performance.
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho said: “It was not a gift. It was for his work. For what he has given the team.”
Davinson Sanchez hammered the ball into Lemina from close range
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
