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Referees’ chief Howard Webb has admitted that Bruno Fernandes’ red card against Tottenham Hotspur was one of only two mistakes by VAR this season.
The controversial tool was introduced to the Premier League in 2019 and in its five years of existence in English football, has become a hotly debated topic.
Despite the ability to use technology to adjust on-field decisions, many fans feel it still ends up making a mess of numerous calls and many despair at the perceived irregularity of decision making from week to week.
Many United fans were left perplexed at the end of last month when they lost 0-3 at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
After a torrid first half, the Red Devils found themselves 0-1 down thanks to a goal from Brennan Johnson but things went from bad to worse when their captain Fernandes was shown a straight red card for a high tackle just before the break.
Many saw it as a harsh decision and the red was finally rescinded after an official appeal by the club, meaning the United man could play in the 0-0 draw against Aston Villa the following weekend.
Speaking on the Stick to Football Podcast, Webb admitted that VAR had got the decision wrong.
“We released the audio and you can hear the assistant, who had a good view of the incident, say that it was awful and a 100% red for him,” he said.
The former Premier League referee then stated that he thought the existence of another replay would surely change the VAR team’s mind but it wasn’t to be.
“From his angle, it looks it because it looks like the studs have gone up but then there is an angle, a second replay from Sky Sports, and straight away I thought that would be an overturn and it wasn’t.”
“I was frustrated that we didn’t step in to rectify because it was clearly wrong in my opinion as he slipped and tried to trip him, but it was the side of the foot, he didn’t drive the studs in.”
Whilst fans of the club will be grateful for an admission of error, they will also feel it comes too little too late as the red card cost United any chance of mounting a fight back in a crucial game in front of their home fans.
Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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