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    Newcastle idol Alan Shearer tells VAR to ‘f*** off’ in X-rated blast having called handball rule ‘pile of s***’

    NEWCASTLE legend Alan Shearer has told VAR where it should go, in not-so-nice terms. The Magpies saw a goal disallowed in their 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest when Sean Longstaff was deemed to be offside in the build-up of Elliot Anderson’s headed effort.
    VAR was once again embroiled in controversyCredit: Alamy
    And Alan Shearer took to Twitter to vent his angerCredit: Getty
    However, the ball was played by two Forest defenders BEFORE hitting Longstaff.
    The Toon faithful were understandably furious, with even the rulebook backing up their side.
    Shearer joined in with the chorus of anger online, saying on his Twitter page: “Oh f… off VAR.”
    The Premier League all-time top goalscorer later added: “I’ve sat in the stand as a fan. I’ve sat in the studio as a pundit.
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    “I’ve watched in the pub tonight with my mates and you’re getting it all wrong VAR. It’s not what you told us.”
    The X-rated rant comes just days after he blasted the handball law when Manchester City were awarded a penalty in the Champions League.
    It came as RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Henrichs saw the ball strike his arm from close range after Rodri’s downward header in mid-air.
    Shearer was up in arms online with the decision, writing: “What a pile of s*** the handball law is. #pathetic.”
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    Despite the introduction of VAR, refereeing continues to suffer from a lack of efficacy.
    Former Prem whistler Mark Halsey has also voiced his displeasure with the current use of VAR and the offside law.
    He told SunSport: “The offside law is an ass.
    “It’s a nonsense decision (Longstaff offside). Surely it’s a deliberate play by Forest defender Felipe?
    “But goals being ruled out for something like this does not sit right with me.” More

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    Mark Halsey: The offside rule is an ass and Elliot Anderson’s Newcastle goal being ruled out doesn’t sit right with me

    FORMER Premier League referee Mark Halsey has branded the decision to rule out Elliot Anderson’s goal against Nottingham Forest a “nonsense decision”. The 20-year-old was robbed of his first Newcastle goal after VAR instructed Paul Tierney to go to the monitor over offside concerns.
    Elliot Anderson thought he had his first Newcastle goal – but Paul Tierney had other ideasCredit: PA
    Mark Halsey took exception to the controversial decision at the City GroundCredit: Rex
    The ref then controversially ruled out the goal.
    It has sparked debate on the offside rule with Tierney’s interpretation not shared by many fans and pundits.
    The moment came after the impressive Alexander Isak played a low cross into the Forest area.
    It was then cleared by Felipe into the path of an offside Sean Longstaff who briefly touched the ball back to Isak.
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    The striker delivered a wonderful cross for Anderson who sparked wild celebrations in the away end after converting his chance from close range.
    But Felipe was judged to have not deliberately played the ball to Longstaff and therefore making the Newcastle midfielder offside.
    Halsey, who refereed hundreds of Premier League games between 1999 and 2013, disagreed with the reasoning.
    He told SunSport: “The offside law is an ass.
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    “It’s a nonsense decision. Surely it’s a deliberate play by Forest defender Felipe?
    “But goals being ruled out for something like this does not sit right with me.”
    Anderson’s came with the game drawn at 1-1.
    Emmanuel Dennis scored an impressive chipped effort in the first-half but that was cancelled out by an equally inventive goal by Isak at the end of the 45.
    The Swedish forward would eventually get the winner for the Magpies with a stoppage time penalty. More

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    Mike Dean snubbed by Premier League chief Howard Webb for a FIFTH week running

    MIKE DEAN has not been selected by Premier League refs’ chief Howard Webb for a FIFTH week running.The dedicated VAR official was last on duty for Leicester’s 4-1 hammering of Tottenham on February 11.
    Mike Dean has not been selected for his dedicated VAR role for the last five weeksCredit: Reuters
    PGMOL refs’ chief Howard Webb has decided not to select DeanCredit: Getty
    The clash at the King Power last month was on matchday 23 of the current season.
    But Dean has not been appointed for a top-flight game since.
    And he has been snubbed yet again in the latest list of Premier League officials selected for matches this weekend.
    SunSport understands Dean’s continuing absence has been a selection decision by Webb.
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    Dean posted an image of the programme from the League Two fixture between Newport and AFC Wimbledon on his Instagram story on Tuesday night.
    The Wirral whistler retired as a referee at the end of last season following 22 years of on-field duties in the Premier League.
    He was then appointed by the PGMOL as a full-time VAR official.
    Dean is no stranger to a weekend off duty, though.
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    In October, the ref headed to Spain for a bit of R&R after being given a match break.
    Dean hilariously shared an image of a fully-stocked beer fridge on Insta – as well as a few snaps of him golfing.
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    Man Utd fans fume after being denied penalty for ‘clear handball’ against Southampton

    MANCHESTER UNITED fans were left fuming after being denied a penalty for handball against Southampton. The sides were level at Old Trafford when Marcus Rashford put in a cross from the left wing.
    Man Utd fans fumed at being denied a penalty for handball against Southampton
    Defender Armel Bella-Kotchap was practically left on all fours as he blocked the incoming ball.
    Replays revealed it struck the top of the centre-back’s arm but referee Anthony Taylor waved play on.
    No penalty was awarded even after a VAR check – leaving United fans fuming online.
    One said: “Hi @Specsavers, think we might have a new client for you, goes by the name of Anthony Taylor.”
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    Another added: “If this was our player handling the ball in the box Anthony Taylor would have pointed to the spot without hesitation.”
    One posted: “How is that not a penalty to Manchester United? We’ve conceded penalties for FAR LESS this season.
    “It’s a clear handball that’s prevented Weghorst from having a chance to score. Yet no intervention from VAR. NONSENSE!”
    Another said: “What’s a handball nowadays?”
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    It added more misery to United’s day after Casemiro was sent off for a tackle on Carlos Alcaraz.
    The Brazilian initially won the ball but went in with his studs up and his momentum saw him follow through.
    Taylor gave a yellow at first but following a VAR check, Casemiro was shown straight red for the second time this season.
    Casemiro shown red against SouthamptonCredit: AFP More

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    Watch ridiculous moment referee awards penalty after two attacking team-mates run into EACH OTHER

    THIS is the moment a referee awarded a penalty after two players from the same team ran into EACH OTHER. The match in the Copa do Brasil saw referee Paulo Roberto Alves Júnior award a penalty despite the collision being players from the same team.
    Tombense players attempt to get the ball in the Retrô penalty areaCredit: SPORTV
    But two Tombense players hit each otherCredit: SPORTV
    Before the ref amazingly awarded a penaltyCredit: SPORTV
    With a loose ball in the area, Tombense star Jaderson fell to floor after colliding with his team-mate.
    And despite the referee appearing to have a good view of the incident, he then awarded a spot-kick to the home side.
    Retrô players were livid at the decision, surrounding the ref and imploring him to change his decision.
    This saw Pedro Costa and goalkeeper Jean awarded yellow cards for protest.
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    Without the benefit of VAR, the ref did not overturn his call.
    Tombense striker Alex Sandro then stepped up to take the shot, with Jean managing to save the spot-kick.
    However, Sandro subsequently converted from the rebound and sent his side through to the next round.
    The game would go on to end in chaos.
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    THREE Retro players were sent off at the end of the game.
    As quoted by World Today News, retired Brazilian referee Sandro Ricci said: “It wasn’t a penalty. The referee was deceived, tricked by the fall of the player.
    “The player from Retrô (Alencar, midfielder) goes for the move, but steps on the ground.” More

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    Stats show VAR has HELPED Arsenal in title race despite Gunners fans being left baffled by decisions

    VAR has appeared to have HELPED Arsenal in their title pursuit – despite fans being left angered by decisions this season. The Gunners have put themselves in a very encouraging position heading into the final few months of the Premier League season.
    Video Assistant Referees (VAR) continues to be a divisive addition to professional footballCredit: Reuters
    Many Arsenal fans feel like their club have not been lucky with VAR – but that has not derailed the Gunners’ brilliant seasonCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    Manchester City have only had one VAR decision go in their favour all seasonCredit: EPA
    Mikel Arteta’s side have a five point lead over Manchester City – and have left every other team in the dust.
    The club are potentially just 12 games away from a first title in almost two decades.
    But anxious fans have become increasingly suspicious of VAR – and that mood went into overdrive last month after Lee Mason’s mistake when Brentford visited the Emirates.
    But new stats from ESPN suggest Arsenal have actually had the rub of the green when it comes to video technology.
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    The club have seen five decisions go their way this season, with only a handful of clubs getting more lucky with VAR interventions.
    Meanwhile, title rivals Man City have only had one VAR decision go their way all season long.
    Only relegation-battling Southampton have had a less good time of it from officials at Stockley Park with the Saints not having a single decision go in their favour so far.
    At the other end of the VAR table, West Ham have benefited the most from controversial refereeing decisions with eight moments going in their favour.
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    West Ham have had the most VAR decisions go in their favour this season
    Fellow Londoners Brentford follow with seven decisions, while Fulham, Liverpool and Newcastle all had six moments go their way thanks to technology.
    While Arsenal have enjoyed some favourable interventions, data suggests they have also had five decisions go against them throughout the course of the season.
    Along with Mason’s howler, the Gunners have found themselves at the centre of several 50/50 VAR moments.
    Many disagreed with the decision to award Arsenal a penalty against Man City when Eddie Nketiah clashed with goalkeeper Ederson last month.
    While even more controversy was sparked when Leandro Trossard saw his goal against Leicester chalked off later in February. More

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    Arsenal fans left fuming at VAR AGAIN after being denied penalty for handball vs Bournemouth

    ARSENAL fans were left raging after being denied a penalty against Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.The Gunners went behind after just NINE SECONDS at the Emirates when Sam Billing tucked home from close range.
    Arsenal fans thought they were going to be awarded a penalty
    But VAR did not send referee Chris Kavanagh to the monitor
    But Mikel Arteta’s men thought they had been given a route back into the match when Chris Mepham appeared to bring the ball down with his arm.
    Referee Chris Kavanagh did not point to the spot, but VAR then had a close look as Arsenal supporters waited intently.
    However, much to the surprise of many fans watching on, the official was not sent to the monitor as play resumed.
    And fans of the North London club took to social media to vent their frustration.
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    One person said: “What the hell? That was a handball in the box, VAR checked it. Why is it not a penalty for Arsenal? WTF 🤬”.
    Another added: “How that handball wasn’t a penalty kick is beyond me”.
    A third replied: “It’s pretty damn clear a handball but VAR is always against Arsenal 😡 c’mon boys! 👊”.
    And a fourth responded: “Someone explain the handball rule to me because I’m lost”.
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    Arsenal’s grievances with VAR stem from a huge error which allowed Brentford’s equaliser to stand at the Emirates last month.
    Official Lee Mason forgot to draw the necessary lines for an offside call – which would have seen the goal ruled out.
    And it ended up costing Arteta’s men two points in the title race.
    They came into the Bournemouth clash having watched Manchester City beat Newcastle 2-0 to reduce the gap at the top to just two points. More

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    Arsenal and Chelsea legend Cesc Fabregas fumes after being robbed of LaLiga title with Barcelona

    CESC FABREGAS believes he was robbed of a LaLiga title during his time at Barcelona.The midfielder is still fuming after a vital Lionel Messi goal was incorrectly ruled out by referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz for offside.
    Cesc Fabregas is still annoyed about losing the 2013/14 LaLiga titleCredit: Getty – Contributor
    Lionel Messi was denied a goal in that crucial meetingCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Messi was judged to be offside as the ball came to him with officials thinking that Fabregas was the last one to touch the ball.
    But replays showed that it was actually Atletico Madrid defender Juanfran with the final touch.
    If the goal had been allowed to stand then Barcelona would have beaten Atletico on the final day of the 2013/14 season and sealed the league title.
    However, the game finished 1-1, meaning the trophy went to Atletico.
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    And Fabregas – who would have picked up his second Spanish LaLiga title – is still annoyed about the mistake.
    He said: “They took away a league against Atlético de Madrid from me.
    “I was in the game and they annulled a goal that was legal, because I didn’t touch the ball, Juanfran touched it.”
    Former Barcelona assistant manager Elvio Paolorosso even revealed that referee Antonio Meteu Lahoz admitted his mistake and apologised to the team after the game.
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    He said: “Messi scored a goal that would have given us the title and the referee ruled it out.
    “We were crying in the dressing room and the referee came to apologise.”
    Midfield maestro Fabregas left Barcelona following the end of the season and returned to the Premier League by joining Chelsea.
    He is now playing for Serie B side Como after a three-year stint with AS Monaco. More