Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has insisted Chris Kavanagh should have awarded a free-kick to Tottenham after VAR ruled out Harry Kane's equaliser against Sheffield United.
The Blades took the lead through Sander Berge but Spurs thought they were level just minutes later after Kane turned the ball past Dean Henderson.
However, VAR ruled out the goal after Lucas Moura was fouled and the ball inadvertently ricocheted to Kane from his arm, leading to the goal.
Under current IFAB rules, VAR was correct to rule out the goal as Moura's arm played a direct role in setting up the goal.
However, Gallagher believes that Kavanagh could and should have pulled the play back to when Moura was fouled, given the referee had initially played an advantage when the ball broke to Kane.
"This is just the unfortunate part of the new law, isn't it?" Gallagher told Ref Watch.
"VAR is totally blameless, it strikes his arm as he falls inadvertently, the law is set up so if it strikes the arm and leads directly to a goal-scoring opportunity, which it does, the goal will be disallowed.
"It's a very interesting decision because Lucas Moura was actually fouled but Chris Kavanagh played advantage. I think what got lost in the check, as the goal is ruled out, the referee completely forgot about the advantage and could have pulled it back to give Tottenham a free-kick.
"I think that would have been the best decision, to go back and give a free-kick. When the VAR recommends the goal is disallowed, it's handball, automatically you think it's a free-kick to Sheffield United.
"It's my belief that we could've gone and given the free-kick to Tottenham. It would have softened the blow a little bit but that doesn't negate the fact the law didn't help the referee and didn't help Tottenham. I'm not sure that's what it was set up for but that is how it is."
