VAR may drive Pep out of the league - Sinclair
THE chaos and confusion of VAR could drive top managers like Pep Guardiola from the Premier League.
That is the view of former City and England star Trevor Sinclair, who feels the discontent surrounding the controversial video reviews could also drive the best players out of the league.
Former referee Mark Halsey said the Premier League is the only top competition in Europe which is failing to stick to the rules laid down by football’s law-making body IFAB.
Their protocol on VAR says the video ref should only intervene for clear and obvious errors, and Halsey added that using pitch-side TV monitors is a must.
City again fell foul of VAR’s vagaries when the distant official ruled that Trent Alexander-Arnold’s arm was in a natural position when he handballed in the area, moments before Liverpool took the lead through Fabinho.
There was also no evident review of whether Mo Salah was offside for the second goal, and a clear push in the back of Raheem Sterling by Sadio Mane was also ignored.
Sinclair, who played for City from 2003 to 2007, feels the poor use of VAR could devalue the league, generally considered to be the best in the world.
City boss Pep Guardiola sarcastically thanked the match officials after the game, although he later claimed he was being genuine.
And Sinclair said such scenes are damaging the game: “The penalty decision - goals change games, and for me it was a clear handball.
“There was potentially a handball from Bernardo Silva slightly before, and people are telling me a penalty can’t be given because the ball hit
Bernardo’s hand prior to hitting Alexander-Arnold’s hand.
“But Alexander-Arnold handballed it in the build-up to the Liverpool goal about 20 seconds later.
“This is what Pep is moaning about he wants a little bit of clarity to what the rules are because at the moment the fans, the players and the manager haven’t got a clue.
“It’s alright the referees and Mike Riley being cocksure, and slightly arrogant, I think, about the clarity of what’s being said.
“But if this continues - and this is my fear - one, the Premier League is not a better spectacle because of this VAR that’s been brought into the game.
“And two, managers like Pep, and the best players, are going to start leaving the Premier League.
“It’s alright having a laugh about it now and saying ‘Yep, it’s a penalty, we’re not discussing it’ but if it continues to be inconsistent, people will start leaving the Premier League and going to different leagues.
“The Premier League is so good because we get the very best managers who attract the very best players.”