Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has weighed in on the VAR debate between Liverpool and Tottenham.
Jurgen Klopp demands Spurs replay after VAR error
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has told Jurgen Klopp he should call off Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Tottenham over their VAR dispute. VAR Darren England banned for the rest of the season due to a serious red foul.
England mistakenly believed that Luis Diaz’s goal against Spurs was awarded by the on-field referees, confirming the decision as “review completed”. He soon realized that the shot had been wrongly ruled out but did not report the error to referee Simon Hooper. Klopp said this week that he would love a replay of Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat. However, Chelsea head coach Pochettino believes the German should have ended the procedure at that point.
Asked if England’s ban from the Liverpool games would set a dangerous precedent, the Argentine said: “I don’t know. It was definitely a mistake. I don’t know if it was the right decision. I cannot say something different because I cannot put myself in Liverpool position, or VAR referee.
“I listened, I think we all did in this country, it is a difficult situation, it is about focus, concentration. Some action can happen in a second. Like when we drive something can happen on the motorway. Mistakes can happen because sometimes you can lose focus and the consequences happen. “Is there a precedent for this? I don’t know. Too many things you don’t know how you react. Maybe I’ll stop the game if I’m Klopp. VAR is embarrassed and the opposition are so happy.
Pochettino also seemed generally to explore the path the story had taken since England’s blunder. The 51-year-old man realized that it was simply human error.
Asked if he trusted VAR, the former Spurs tactician said: “I trust the car, but the driver…
“Years ago, I was very critical from the beginning. Technical, whether it is on the other side of the line, and also offside. Then you can discuss whether the judge needs the last word. I can’t understand all the situations, I can’t understand the situation you ask about today.
“Human mistakes can happen. When a referee makes a mistake we can accept. When technology is involved it is difficult to understand but we cannot complain. It is not easy and I cannot understand all of the people talking about one thing or another. To me that simplifies the situation.
– The most important thing is to give the judge more power. Let’s accept if he is contaminated, because sometimes in life the perception is different. It’s really difficult when you see an action through VAR, in some situations it increases, but sometimes people who work in football know that’s what you see in the picture. But the offside side and the goal line are the two that must be preserved. “Then it’s about penalties, some actions to judge in the game, that’s for the referee. At the moment we’re not happy with VAR, the ones responsible and worst of all, we’re not happy with the referee either. One step back can make things easier and clearer.”
