According to Danny Rose condemned the video assistant referee (VAR) as ridiculous and a shambles and said it ruined what should have been a positive night for both Tottenham Hotspur and Rochdale on Wednesday.
The first half of our 6-1 win last night was marred by a number of controversial and confusing decisions by the VAR, and Mauricio Pochettino warned afterwards that it could kill the game.
Speaking to ESPN, Danny said:”It was interesting, very frustrating and just confusing more than anything,”:Rose said. “It just overshadowed a good performance by us and a good performance by Rochdale. There’s no word to describe the game except frustrating, even though we won 6-1.
He added:”It’s just complete nonsense if you ask me, waiting around not knowing what’s going on. It’s ridiculous. Ridiculous. I’ve had a few messages already saying the VAR is a shambles. It’s been the same in every round it’s been used. How can you go from a free-flowing football game for 90 minutes to stopping for one or two minutes for a decision? It is what it is and we just have to get on with it.”
Referee Paul Tierney ruled out Erik Lamela’s seemingly legitimate fifth-minute goal using VAR for a supposed foul by Fernando Llorente and We were denied a penalty using VAR even though Lucas Moura appeared to be blocked in the area.
Sonny then gave us the lead before we were awarded a penalty using VAR after Kieran Trippier was fouled. However, and controversially, Son’s successful spot kick was ruled out for supposed ungentlemanly conduct after he stuttered in the run-up and then Rochdale equalised through Stephen Humphrys — a goal reviewed by VAR — before half-time.
The article goes on to say that each decision took over a minute while baffled and often frustrated players and supporters waited in sub-freezing and snowy conditions. There were five minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first period.
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“After an incident had happened, [Tierney] was fully open to us asking why he stopped,”:Rose said. “He explained his decisions — some we don’t agree with. For instance, the penalty, he said Sonny had stopped just before he kicked the ball but to me it didn’t look like it. He stopped a few yards before. It didn’t make sense.
He added: “But we managed to score six goals and luckily we’re not on the losing side complaining about VAR. I feel for Rochdale. Some of their players said it was their first time at Wembley and it’s completely overshadowed. It could have been a nice occasion for them.”
Rose was asked how the system could be improved, and he said: “I honestly have no idea but what I experienced was not good at all.”
Llorente scored a perfect hat trick in 12 minutes after the restart and Son and substitute Kyle Walker-Peters added further goals in a second half free of VAR incidents.
It goes on to describe how Danny has not featured in the Premier League since Boxing Day after injuring a knee in the draw at Southampton, and his only appearances in 2018 have been against Newport County and Rochdale in the FA Cup.
“I feel OK,”:he said. “It was a strange game for myself. I couldn’t really get into the game. It was frustrating and the conditions didn’t help. It’s been a nice test for myself up against Rochdale these last two games because they’re a good footballing team.
He went on to say: “I hope I can be part of an exciting cup run for Tottenham and the more wins I get the happier I’ll be. We’re on a good run now and as long as we keep winning I’ll be happy and everyone else will be happy.
He added: “We’re excited for what lies ahead. We’re obviously not going to disregard Swansea [in the FA Cup quarterfinal] and after that, if we do get through that, we obviously don’t fear Chelsea or Man United. It’s very exciting times for us now, with the Champions League [round-of-16 second leg against Juventus] coming up. I’d like to think we’re favourites in that game as well. It could be a very exciting end to a very hard season.”
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