Southampton boss — VAR could have saved us

SOUTHAMPTON manager Mark Hughes was left bemused after the video assistant referee was not consulted in the “match-defining” moment of Sunday’s FA Cup semifinal loss to Chelsea.

Olivier Giroud’s effort early in the second half was all that split the sides when Willy Caballero dropped the ball into his own net, only to be saved by referee Martin Atkinson adjudging Saints striker Charlie Austin had fouled the goalkeeper. Substitute Alvaro Morata went on to seal a 2-0 victory with a late header but Hughes was dissatisfied with the overall performance of the officials and believes VAR technology should have been utilised.

“There’s disappointment because the situation where the goalkeeper’s made a wrong decision, basically thrown the ball into the back of his net,” the Southampton boss said.

“If ever there was a situation for VAR to play a hand and step in to review that, I would have thought that was an opportunity.

“It was a match-defining moment, a key moment. Who knows how the game might have followed from that moment? Why it wasn’t referred? I have no idea.

“Giroud handled from the following corner, another they could have reviewed, but maybe that was a bit too quick for him. We’re disappointed with the officials on the day, and whoever it is who sits in a darkened room.”

Struggling Saints, who are in serious danger of Premier League relegation, could have also benefited from VAR in last weekend’s league defeat to the Blues when Marcos Alonso escaped a red card after standing on the leg of Shane Long.

The technology is not currently used in England’s top flight.