Jamie Redknapp fumed at half-time during Tottenham’s Premier League game at Sheffield United after Harry Kane had a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee (VAR) Michael Oliver for a handball in the build-up.
Kane appeared to have scored an equaliser moments after Sander Berge’s opener for the Blades, but the VAR managed to find an infringement on the replay in which Kane’s Spurs teammate Lucas Moura fell on to the ball.
Although the clip was inconclusive, it suggested the ball may have hit Moura’s upper arm or back as he tumbled to the ground under a challenge. The rules currently state that if the ball makes any contact with an attacker’s hand or arm in the immediate build-up to a goal, it must be disallowed.
“This is one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen, I can honestly say, since VAR was introduced,” said Redknapp, talking as a pundit on Sky Sports. “I get the letter of the law but we have to show common sense.
A player’s [Moura] been fouled. When you fall over you have to put your arms out to protect yourself. He’s been fouled by three players there, you can see it’s an obvious foul THe ball then ricochets on to his arm, it falls to harry Kane who obviously finishes pretty well.
“Why can’t we show common sense at times like this? I get it’s difficult for Michael Oliver. He’s the best referee in the Premier League and he’s probably thinking ‘what do I do? It’s the letter of the law’.
“It’s ruining football.”
Sheffield United went into the break with a 1-0 lead, and Spurs players and coaching staff were seen protesting to the officials as they left the pitch.
