Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou comments on Jurgen Klopp’s replay claims
It has been almost a week now and the talk simply won’t die down about the VAR technology and the absolutely horrendous mistakes that seemed to have occurred in last weekend’s game between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool and has seen both Ange Postecoglou and Jurgen Klopp give their comments.
Ever since its inclusion into the game, the VAR system has always polarized opinion and has seen a fair bit of controversy but none so big as this one has transpired before. It begs the very basic question – “Is football any better with the technology?”
I am afraid that the answer is a resounding “NO”. Yes, there have been times where the technology has come to the rescue and helped overturn incorrect penalty calls and spotted offsides during goals.
That said, in its current shape and form, the minuses are too hard to ignore even if we choose to focus on the pluses. Technology should be there to help the game but it feels like it is only burdening it further.
When Ange Postecoglou was asked about his take on the VAR technology and what transpired in the game against Liverpool, here is what he said, as quoted by BBC Sport
“I would, in its current form. I just don’t think that technology’s ready for our game. I’ve got absolutely zero against goalline technology, that’s a no-brainer because that’s quite significant, but it works for our game”
The Australian gaffer has made his intentions clear. Yes, the rub of the green went Tottenham’s way last week but Pochettino is a man wise enough to know that it is only a matter of time before it affects his team in a different way.
Speaking about Jurgen Klopp’s claims for a replay of the game between the two sides, Postecoglou was very wise in his answer
“I think Jurgen’s said that and maybe that was taken a little bit out of context. My view is when you’re talking about a replay, there’s got to be some sort of threshold and I don’t think a mistake is a threshold for that”
As much as we can be empathetic with Jurgen Klopp, a replay seems too outlandish. Football has seen many refereeing mistakes over the years and all those games have not been replayed. There is no precedent for such claims.
As Pochettino prepares his team for the Luton Town clash, he will know that it is important that they set all this external noise aside and build on what has been a sensational start to the current season.
The Liverpool goal incident was a one-off and it is not that such errors happen every week. The bigger picture aside, right now, the focus has to be on football and how we can get past the Premier League newbies.
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Managers all around the world can say what they want but the decision needs to be taken by authorities above. Let’s see if VAR can evolve in a way that supports the game and stops being a hindrance.
