1-0 • 0-0 • 1-0 • 2-0 • 1-0 • 1-1
That’s the scoreline’s path to half-time, with two Tottenham goals disallowed Spurs fans would’ve been forgiven for thinking it wasn’t their night. The game actually finished 6-1 after a Fernando Llorente hat-trick.
It was a quintessential FA Cup tie. Goals, drama and VAR. Well maybe the video refs will become a bonafide part of the process in the future. For now they seem to be the bane of every fan in the country.
Goals for Erik Lamela and Son Heung-min were disallowed by the technology in the first half. In the first case for a foul in build-up and then a feint during a penalty. The cameras were checked by referee Paul Tierney in several other instances too.
It’s worth pointing out that VAR got every single decision right and wasn’t used in the second half other than to check the five goals, as is tradition.
Still, that didn’t stop fans laying into Tierney – reasonable as they are.
This referee is like the one lad on a night out who has to check in with his girlfriend every 5 minutes 😂 #TOTROC #VAR
— Daniel Hogan (@DanHogan91) February 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/Craig1467/status/968945646685257729
https://twitter.com/TommyE1992/status/968942297009319939
Cricket, rugby union, rugby league, NFL – you can HEAR either the officials or the video ref. What the hell do they say to each other in football that demands secrecy? #TOTROC #VAR
— Mark Chapman (@markchapman) February 28, 2018
End VAR now. #TOTROC
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) February 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/SmithySoccerAM/status/968944151147532288
Football is being ruined, and yet I’m in stitches. This is THE most ridiculous first half I’ve ever seen ever #TOTROC
— George Bury (@GBury_17) February 28, 2018
Absolute madness that first half off football was . VAR ruining the game 😒 #TOTROC #FACup
— Shane Duffy (@shaneduffy) February 28, 2018
The ref everytime Tottenham score a goal…. #TOTROC #bbcfacup pic.twitter.com/DKgbGmMcIl
— Marwan Nawaz (@MarwanNawaz) February 28, 2018
Live footage of VAR in use tonight 👀 #TOTROC pic.twitter.com/d6JTFx50K1
— Jermaine Jenas (@jjenas8) February 28, 2018