The whole thing was embarrassing
I feel like a broken record saying this, but VAR is at it again. This week, the Premier League served up a fresh dollop of VAR related shambles by disallowing what looked like a perfectly legitimate goal by Edinson Cavani because Scott McTominay’s finger caught Heung-min Son by accident in the face in the build up.
A few passes after Son crumpled to the turf, and Cavani had the ball in the net. It was a slick move that deserved a goal, and while Spurs players protested, you got the impression the goal would stand because the contact was so minimal.
I don’t doubt that Son was hurt, it was probably more painful than it looked, and ultimately, if you don’t go down you don’t get anything. So I’m not here to criticise him, even if that’s what most of social media is doing right now – the word “cheating” is trending. We sadly know where this will end up.
The pundits on Sky, a stellar line up of Roy Keane, Micah Richards and Jamie Redknapp, the perfect cocktail for some Sunday controversy, bemoaned the decision. Richards called it embarrassing, saying “we may as well all go home now.” They stopped just short of saying “the game’s gone.”
PGMOL, the body responsible for refereeing in the UK, offered an explanation for the decision to overturn the goal, which Sky presenter Dave Jones read out at half time: “It wasn’t part of McTominay’s natural running movement and was careless.”
Have a watch and make your own mind up.
🗣️ "It is embarrassing. This is not football anymore."
🗣️ "If that is a foul we may as well all go home now"
Roy Keane and @MicahRichards left fuming by Manchester United's disallowed goal! pic.twitter.com/yGt7cVNdXW
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 11, 2021
Just minutes later Tottenham went up the other end and took the lead through Son, rubbing salt in United’s wounds.
Fred brought United back level in the 57th minute, tapping in the rebound from an Edinson Cavani shot, before Cavani then put United in front to round off a fantastic team move with a brilliant diving header.
