PETER CROUCH blasted VAR after Brighton were awarded a last-gasp penalty against Liverpool.
Referee Stuart Attwell pointed to the spot after going to the pitchside monitor to review a previously unseen piece of contact between Andy Robertson and Danny Welbeck.
Peter Crouch was not impressed after VAR awarded Brighton a late penalty against Liverpool
In clearing the ball, Robertson had clipped Brighton newboy Welbeck, prompting Atwell to award a penalty which Pascal Gross duly converted to snatch a late 1-1 draw for the Seagulls.
Speaking on BT Sport, Crouch said: “I don’t like it, I am not a fan of it at all.
“In the speed of the game I don’t think Brighton would have had any complaints at all.
“But when you slow it down and look at it forensically it is a penalty. Welbeck gets there first and there is contact.
“But in the cold light of day without the replay we would have just played on.”
Joe Cole echoed his BT colleague’s sentiments: “With offside it is black and white, but for situations like that, I didn’t even see Welbeck calling for it, but it is a penalty.”
Crouch added: “Ten years ago it happens and we move on as there is not as much scrutiny.
“But today, the referee goes over to the screen and he makes his decision.”
Brighton manager Graham Potter conceded after the game: “It wasn’t the most stonewall penalty I’ve seen.”
Liverpool also saw two goals ruled out after offside reviews, only adding to manager Jurgen Klopp’s frustrations.
Former referee Peter Walton admitted he has found VAR’s usage in the Premier League confusing.
Walton said: “I’ve got to recalibrate my thinking.
“VAR was brought in for clear and obvious errors, just because there is contact, it doesn’t mean it is a foul.
“You can clearly see there is contact and you can give the penalty for that but the point I am trying to make is does VAR need to intervene for that?
“You should be refereeing in the context of the game.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
