VAR got it wrong Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey blasts technology after Champions League shambles

VAR got it wrong Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey blasts technology after Champions League shambles
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has slammed VAR after the new technology took centre-stage again in more Champions League controversy.Both Manchester City and Atletico Madrid fell victim to decisions made by the Video Assistant Referee on Wednesday night, and Halsey believes one of them was the wrong call.City were forced to fight for their 3-2 first leg win at Schalke, after the game swung in the home sides favour with two penalty decisions via VAR.Having led through Sergio Agueros goal, Schalke levelled through a Nabil Bentaleb spot kick after VAR overruled a corner kick call to award a penalty for an apparent handball from Nicolas Otamendi.4

Manchester City players argue with the referee during their clash with Schalke

The game was delayed by almost three minutes as players waited for the decision, after the referee walked over to pitch-side screens only to find they were not working. He had to rely solely on the decision from the VAR booth, and gave the penalty despite not watching the incident back himself.VAR was also briefly consulted for Schalkes second penalty after a foul by Fernandinho, but City rallied late on to win 3-2 thanks to late goals from Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling.There was also controversy in the nights other game, with Atletico denied a penalty and an Alvaro Morata goal by VAR before going on to beat Juventus 2-0 in Spain.4

The referee consults the VAR screen – which was working at Atletico’s clash against Juventus

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Alvaro Morata is yet to open his account for Atletico, having now had two goals chalked off by VAR

And ex-top flight referee Halsey, who watched Citys match, admitted it was another embarrassing evening for the new technology.UEFA have brought the use of VAR forward for this seasons last-16 stage of the Champions League but it appears to only have raised more questions, with Ajax also denied what would have been a match-winning goal against Real Madrid last week.Halsey said the handball given against City defender Otamendi should not have been given, and that VAR should have been abandoned altogether when they found the screens were faulty.I wouldnt be happy about that, he told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast.UEFA had a meeting in London where they emphasised that the on-field referee must make the final decision and its appropriate he visits the screen.If that screen is not working, and surely it was tested before the game started, then VAR should not be used on the night. They should forget about VAR and go with the on-field referee for the rest of the game.4

The referee for Schalke v Man City still used VAR despite not being able to review the incidents himself

Asked about the handball, he added: It has to be a deliberate movement.Lots of players use their arms for balance and you cant make a tackle sometimes without using your arms for balance. The question is was there a deliberate movement of the arm towards the ball?In my opinion, the handball shouldnt have been given. They should have just given a corner and got on with it.If video referees are taking in excess of three minutes to come to that decision, was it clear and obvious? Youd have to say no!

Listen back to Mark Halsey’s VAR verdict on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast above!

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