Jose Mourinho goes on rant about VAR and how they should change its name

Tottenham Hotspur were involved in a dramatic game at the new stadium in North London at the weekend as they defeated Manchester City by two goals to nil.

Not only was it a surprise result for the underdogs, but it also came with plenty of VAR controversy throughout the match.

In the opening minutes, Raheem Sterling was booked for a challenge on Dele Alli that saw his studs come over the top of the ball and plant down on the Spurs man’s ankle.

VAR reviewed the challenge and decided that no further punishment was needed for the Man City man.

Later in the first half, Serge Aurier appeared to bring down Sergio Aguero in the box, only for Mike Dean to wave play on, claiming that the Spurs man got the ball.

Two full minutes of play later and Dean blew his whistle to award the penalty, courtesy of VAR, much to the surprise of everyone in the stadium.

Jose Mourinho believes that VAR should be changed to VR, as the refs currently have no say in the decisions (Football London): “I don’t know, the only thing I can say is if the referees are not allowed to go to the screen and take the big decisions of the game, they have to change the name of the VAR and call it VR – video referee. Because at this moment, the referees that are in the pitch are not making the most important decisions of the game. Mike Dean decided it was not a penalty.

“The VAR decided it was a penalty and Mike didn’t have the chance to go to the screen and make that decision, who made that decision was Kevin Friend. So Kevin Friend should be called VR because he made the decision. The same thing with the yellow card and the red card.

“Mr Dean on the pitch decided yellow card. Which I accept by Mr Dean because he is on the pitch and it is a very difficult job. What I don’t accept is Mr Friend with the screen made the decision of keeping that. So I think one of two. Or give the referee the command and give him the possibility of going to the screen for the big decisions or change the name to VR. But I keep saying one thing that is very important. The mistakes on the pitch, I make mistakes, the players make mistakes, the referees make mistakes. I don’t accept the mistakes by the video referee.

“When I play PlayStation I don’t make mistakes, I only make mistakes when I am on the touchline. When I was with Gary [Neville] and [Dermot] Gallagher working for Sky I never make mistakes, I make mistakes when I am there on the touchline. When the referee sees the same they can make mistakes and I have full respect for them because it is very, very difficult – again 200mph. When they have time on the VAR it is more difficult to accept and we are being punished, very punished by decisions of the VAR.”

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