The introduction of the Video Assistant Referee has been one of the hottest topics of the new Premier League season, and VAR took center stage in the biggest matchup of the weekend as Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus had a game-winning goal disallowed after a video review.
With the reigning Premier League champions tied 2-2 with Tottenham in the dying minutes of the match, Gabriel Jesus appeared to snatch all three points with a winner in the second minute of stoppage time.
Replays revealed that the ball into the penalty area deflected off the arm of Manchester City’s Aymeric Laporte and dropped to Gabriel Jesus, setting up the goal. Per a rule change that went into effect this June, all goals scored or created by a handball will be disallowed, even if the contact is accidental.
By the rules, VAR was right to disallow the goal and a draw was the just result – but soccer fans are still split over VAR’s impact on the game.
