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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Rich Jones

VAR slammed for 'another flaw' after Chelsea given Super Cup penalty vs Liverpool

Andy Gray slammed VAR after Chelsea were awarded a controversial penalty in extra-time of their UEFA Super Cup clash with Liverpool in Istanbul.

The Reds looked set to claim victory as Sadio Mane fired them 2-1 ahead only for goalkeeper Adrian to concede a penalty for fouling Tammy Abraham.

He was adjudged to have brought down the Chelsea frontman after being beaten to a ball in the box although there appeared to be minimal contact on angles later shown by BT Sport.

VAR nonetheless reviewed the decision and the decision stood - but fans were left feeling the angles shown at the time failed to give adequate evidence to make the right call.

Whilst it is unclear which angles were reviewed immediately by VAR, those shown in real-time proved inconclusive before better footage was shown at the interval.

Speaking on beIN Sports, former Scotland striker Gray declared VAR "didn't help at all" the referee.

Adrian was deemed to have fouled Tammy Abraham (REUTERS)

Gray said: “You see, that’s another flaw with this system. If you don’t have the definitive angle, then you’re not going to get it write.

“I agree, I don’t think it was a penalty, I don’t think Adrian touched him at all, I think Abraham , very clever, went in looking for it.

“They don’t have an angle which actually shows it, and that’s the problem.

Jorginho slotted home the penalty to force a shoot-out after extra-time finished level (AFP/Getty Images)

“If you don’t have an angle which shows the incident clearly, what are you supposed to do then?

“You’re relying on the referee’s judgement. I think most referees would’ve given that because of the position they were in, that’s the problem.

“Certainly VAR didn’t help at all. If that’s the only angles VAR had, it was a waste of time. It showed nothing.”

After the game finished 2-2 after extra-time, Liverpool went on to lift the trophy after triumphing 5-4 in the shoot-out.

Adrian went on to go from zero to hero, stopping Abraham's penalty to secure victory for the Reds.

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