Ref let down Swans, but where was VAR?
THE FA’s decision not to get the Liberty Stadium ready for VAR probably cost Swansea a place in the FA Cup semi-finals. Manchester City’s second and third goals should not have stood. For the second, a penalty awarded for a foul on Raheem Sterling, the defender clearly got a touch on the ball. Then Sergio Aguero was offside for his winning goal. VAR should not have been needed to get those decisions right. Andre Marriner should have seen Sterling was not fouled, and for the offside, the assistant referee should have been in line with the second-last defender. The integrity of the FA Cup has been damaged by the use of VAR in Premier League stadiums only. For the quarter-finals, the FA should have got Swansea and Millwall approved for use of VAR. There was enough time, because the draw was on February 18.