The FA Cup replay between Tottenham Hotspur and Rochdale has already produced a highly controversial decision. A neat Erik Lamela finish was ruled out after a prolonged delay, thanks to our newly introduced friend VAR.
Rochdale forced a highly lucrative replay in Wembley earlier this month with a 2-2 draw at the Crown Oil Arena. However, tonight Spurs started brightest of the pair and took the lead after just five minutes, or so they thought.
Fernando Llorente was adjudged to have committed a foul in the build-up to the goal. As the referee awaited a decision players and the crowd were visibly frustrated by the amount of time it took.
Apparently foul by Llorente, which looks like a ridiculous call #TOTROC #THFC #TottenhamHotspur pic.twitter.com/PuZv8e2Zcq
— Jonah Takalua (@Destaquito2) February 28, 2018
The decision provoked a strong backlash online.
VAR is supposed to clear up obvious issues not ones some idiot in Chiswick is making up. Utterly ridiculous. Needs to be stopped now until people understand how to use it.
— James Dickens (@JamesWDickens) February 28, 2018
VAR is killing this game. Not even talking about right or wrong decisions. I’m purely talking about stopping the madness of a goal. That explosion of emotion IS FOOTBALL.
Take the goals out of football and you’ve just got the weirdest activity ever.— Ste Howson (@MrStephenHowson) February 28, 2018
Unless you were undecided, VAR is an absolute shambles. Yer da was right all along...
— Dream Team (@dreamteamfc) February 28, 2018
Anybody in the stadium (or outside for that matter) know why that was ruled out? Of course not because the VAR treats fans like idiots. Football is so scared of communication. #TOTROC
— Mark Chapman (@markchapman) February 28, 2018
Shortly afterward, VAR awarded Spurs a penalty which Son Heung-min duly converted. However, after consulting VAR, the penalty was disallowed and Son received a yellow for stopping mid-run up.
Video assistant referee was always going to have a bedding in process, but the downside of the technology is obvious. The stoppages are increasingly frustrating, particularly for those within the stadium.
In this case, Son's penalty seemed correctly ruled out. The length of the delay was, and will continue to be, the issue.
