Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg insists "VAR did its job" in awarding Brighton & Hove Albion a last-gasp penalty equaliser following Andy Robertson’s challenge on Danny Welbeck.
Liverpool were at the centre of yet more VAR debate at the Amex Stadium as goals from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane were overturned in each half because both forwards had strayed offside - the former by just a whisker.
And then referee Stuart Attwell initially did not award the Seagulls a penalty when Robertson tackled Welbeck in the final moments, but was asked by VAR officials to take a look and then duly pointed to the spot.
Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, Clattenburg, who was a Premier League referee between 2004-17 and took charge of both the Champions League and European Championship finals in 2016, said: “This was one of those difficult decisions which always stir debate.
“Penalise Andy Robertson and you’re accused of being harsh. Don’t penalise him and you’re accused of letting the champions off lightly.
“In real time, it did not appear to be a penalty because, given the direction of the ball, it must have looked to referee Stuart Attwell as if Robertson had played it.
“However, VAR Kevin Friend studied the incident in slow motion and saw that Danny Welbeck had got to the ball just before Robertson, who was committed to trying to clear the danger and caught the Brighton striker’s foot.
“So, there can be no debate — it was a foul. Jurgen Klopp wasn’t happy but I would have awarded a penalty, too.
“People might argue it wasn’t clear and obvious, but the replays showed it was a foul and a spot-kick, missed in real time by Attwell. VAR did its job.”
