VAR kills emotions, says Poch
Despite the system aiding his side, Spurs boss reckons it needs a lot more work
TOTTENHAM Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino was critical of video assistant referee (VAR) technology on Tuesday despite the system playing a key role in Harry Kane’s penalty winner in a 1-0 League Cup semi-final, firstleg victory over Chelsea.
Kane’s 26th-minute spot kick means Spurs take a slender advantage to Stamford Bridge on January 24, but despite VAR proving helpful for his team, Pochettino was unhappy.
“To be honest, I’m not very happy with that system, it’s a system that we need to agree on the way it’s going to be used,” said Pochettino, who is seeking a first trophy since taking over at Spurs in 2014.
“We need to develop that system, we need to work with players, coaching staff and referees, it needs to be a tool to improve the game.”
The crucial VAR intervention came just before the midway point of the first half as Kane raced through on goal from Toby Alderweireld’s pass and appeared to be brought down by Chelsea’s Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Initially referee Michael Oliver did not award a penalty but instead signalled for VAR while the crowd and players watched and waited in a state of some confusion.
After a lengthy delay to decide whether Kane had actually been onside in the build-up to the goal and whether there had been contact, Oliver pointed to the spot and Kane drilled home what turned out to be the winner.
“It’s a system that sometimes kills emotions,” Pochettino said. “Of course today it was a little advantage for us and was a good decision for us, but I didn’t celebrate because we were waiting five minutes.
“Being clear, I am pro technology because you cannot stop evolution but we are waiting so long, it is not clear what are the rules.”
VAR, which was used at last year’s World Cup and is set to be introduced in the Premier League next season, was also in the spotlight during the weekend’s FA Cup ties.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche was left bemused when a penalty decision in favour of his side against Barnsley was overturned just as Matej Vydra was in his run-up to take it.
Chelsea’s Italian manager Maurizio Sarri was also left frustrated by the VAR on Tuesday.
“Kane was clearly offside,” he said. “A few minutes ago I watched the video from our camera. It was offside. At the moment here referees aren’t ready to use the system in the right way.”
Meanwhile, Tottenham will not move into their new stadium until March at the earliest after the club announced another raft of matches would be played at their adopted Wembley home.
Home matches against Watford on January 30, Newcastle United (Feb 2) and Leicester City (Feb 10) as well as the Champions League last 16 home clash with Borussia Dortmund (Feb 13) will all be staged at Wembley.
Initially Spurs were expected to be move into their new 62,000seat ground last September but the project has been beset by technical problems and missed contractor deadlines.