CRYSTAL PALACE fans paraded “END VAR NOW” banners – then chanted for the same video-replay system to get Arsenal scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang his red-card for a studs-in tackle.
Supporters went from hating to hailing the new technology after anti-VAR flags initially dominated the view behind one Selhurst Park goal before a 1-1 draw kept Palace a point above the tenth-placed Gunners.
Palace supporters show initial disapproval of the new video-replay systemCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But Eagles’ fans were then calling for VAR to intevene after this lunge by Arsenal top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on Max MeyerCredit: BT Sport
Home fans demanded VAR after striker Aubameyang was at first only booked for a dangerous lunge on home midfielder Max Meyer.
Referee Paul Tierney then watched replays and upgraded Aubameyang’s yellow card to red.
But Palace supporters were teased on social media for their apparent U-turn.
‘INCONSISTENT’
One tweet claimed: “Less than 90 minutes between Palace fans unveiling an anti-VAR banner and literally chanting for the use of VAR. Life comes at you fast.”
Most comments on Twitter, though, seemed to be more traditional criticisms of VAR.
One post slated the lengthy delay from the incident to the VAR verdict for an “immediately obvious” red card.
And anther sparked a debate after highlighting a challenge from Palace midfielder Youri Tielemans that he felt deserved the same red-card punishment – proving the use of VAR was “inconsistent”.
But many respondents disagreed with the comparison.
And there was wide support for the decision to dismiss Aubameyang, whose crunching slide forced Meyer off injured.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
