Wilder frustrated by VAR as failure to award Blades a penalty allows
Manager cannot believe handball was missed Djenepo wonder goal hands Saints the win
Chris Wilder has defended the VAR system but questioned the way in which it is being used following the controversy involving his Sheffield United team.
Wilder was fuming after his side were denied a penalty in their 1-0 home defeat by Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday.
The VAR system did not give a handball against midfielder James Ward-prowse when the ball hit his arm in the penalty area with 15 minutes of the match remaining.
United players, who were trying to fight back after going a goal down, looked stunned, with defender Jack O’connell shouting: “Oh my God, it’s a handball!”
The latest controversy came just two days after referees’ chief Mike Riley admitted that VAR has made four mistakes in the Premier League so far this season.
Wilder said: “I’m a fan of getting the right decisions correct. I don’t understand that was the correct decision. I suppose not being a fan [of VAR] means shutting it all down and not having another referee who doesn’t have a different angle to give the right decision.
“The right decision should have been given by somebody 167 miles away with about seven different views. I basically think that he got that decision wrong.
“It obviously gives you a better opportunity of getting a decision right. So, when you see it, you can’t understand why it hasn’t been given, in my opinion.”
The incident raised issues about the definition of a handball and, in terms of an error being made, what can be deemed “clear and obvious” – both, arguably, grey areas.
John Fleck had delivered a corner then – after the ball struck Ward-prowse’s arm on the edge of the six-yard box – at least three United players quickly appealed for handball.
Much of Bramall Lane then started chanting “VAR, VAR” but the system did not help them.
Wilder defended the system even though it also ruled out what would have been a goal for his side – in the days before VAR – early in the second half while it was 0-0.
Oli Mcburnie and much of Bramall Lane had been celebrating when he netted from Ollie Nor