Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Lee Wilmot

Arsenal and Spurs fans will relate to what Gary Lineker has said about VAR after Everton defeat

VAR is at the forefront of people's conversations once more.

The Video Assistant Referee seems to be the talking point that just will not go away.

For the first time this season, VAR overturned a penalty decision during the Brighton versus Everton clash at the Amex Stadium.

Referee Andy Madley decided not to award a spot-kick following a minor coming together between Michael Keane and Aaron Connolly.

It did not look like there was much contact, and replays showed similarly, that there was minimal contact, with Keane stepping on Connolly's foot in the area.

And after a season so far in which VAR has been reluctant to overturn penalty decisions, there was shock and surprise when Madley's original decision of no penalty was overturned.

Neal Maupay converted from the spot to make it 2-2 and Brighton won it in the last minute of injury-time thanks to a Lucas Digne own goal.

Match of the Day host Gary Lineker summed up how many fans were feeling in the aftermath by saying: "VAR hasn’t given a penalty this season, finally gives one to Brighton for next to nothing. The bar that has been at pole vault heights has descended to limbo dancing levels."

And Lineker will have had support for what he said from both Tottenham and Arsenal supporters, given what they have seen during their teams' games this season.

Spurs were denied a penalty during their 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United, when Harry Kane appeared to be rugby-tackled by Jamaal Lascelles, while Serge Aurier had a goal ruled out against Leicester because Son Heung-min was 1.6cm offside in the build-up.

Arsenal were also denied a penalty during this week's defeat to Sheffield United, when Sokratis appeared to have his shirt pulled in the area - an offence that the Gunners conceded a penalty for when they played Liverpool.

VAR was supposed to put an end to controversial calls, but it only seems to have added to the problem.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.