RAGE AS REF PUTS BLOCK ON BLADES
THIS Premier League season should really come with an asterisk when written into the history books. If the problems are not VAR, they are the laws which refs are working with. Manchester City were simply not in this game until seven minutes after half-time. Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United were comfortable, playing out from their own goal, when referee Chris Kavanagh impeded John Fleck. The ball was in Dean Henderson’s net seconds later. Kevin de Bruyne pounced on the fortunate bounce to tee up Sergio Aguero for the opener. VAR checked and deemed Kavanagh had not touched the ball — Fleck nudged it desperately from between the official’s legs — so there was no infringement. Presumably, Kavanagh would have known if his boot had connected and communicated as much to Stockley Park. It was hard not to feel for Wilder. Kavanagh’s presence certainly put Fleck off his stride. ‘It changed the game,’ said the Blades boss. ‘The rule came in over the summer, when it hits the referee. I don’t think it hit the referee but he is right in the mix. But does he affect the play? Does he affect Fleck? We don’t want him invisible but he’s played a part. ‘He invited me in afterwards and was honest and open. I’ll leave that conversation between us but put two and two together and you’ll get the answer. If he just blows his whistle then, there wouldn’t have been a big debate.’ Kavanagh’s apparent apology will be of little comfort to the visitors, who lost away from Bramall Lane for the first time since January 19. Pep Guardiola had sympathy for his opposite number. ‘I have a huge list for VAR,’ he said after De Bruyne scored late on to seal the three points. ‘Every weekend is a big mess. In other games, it was a big mess.’ Yesterday might have been so different. Again, VAR had its say just before the half hour. The Blades’ celebrations were long over by the time VAR official Stuart Attwell ruled Lys Mousset was a toenail clear of Eric Garcia before sliding the ball underneath Claudio Bravo. Wilder added: ‘There’s no conclusive evidence with offsides because of blurred lines and where they’re taking their angles from. ‘It has to improve. Eight or nine goals knocked off this weekend. There are going to be goals knocked off but there is so much debate on every one.’