Date published: Thursday 2nd July 2020 9:00
Jose Mourinho had to keep himself in check when discussing VAR’s controversial role in Tottenham’s loss to Sheffield United.
Spurs were denied what appeared a perfectly good goal when VAR chalked off Harry Kane’s apparent equaliser at Bramall Lane.
With Sheffield United 1-0 after Sander Berge’s opener, the disallowed strike proved costly as Spurs fell to a 3-1 defeat.
With Kane celebrating what he thought was the leveller, VAR then chalked the goal off; Lucas Moura having been adjudged to have handled the ball as he fell.
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But replays showed the decision to be harsh, with Moura knowing nothing about the contact and the ball ricocheting off him as he fell.
It was no surprise when Mourinho was asked first of all about the incident in his after-match press conference.
This is a refereeing mistake. The ‘can’t re-referee’ claim misunderstands the rules, as an advantage is underway at the point at which VAR intervenes. https://t.co/ifnlebnl4L
— Seb Stafford-Bloor (@SebSB) July 2, 2020
The frustrated Spurs boss at first refused to talk about the disallowed goal and the interpretation of the handball rule. However, he did hit out at the way VAR operates.
“I can’t say what I think, I would be in trouble, I would be suspended. I cannot say what I think, would like to but I can’t,” he told Sky Sports News.
“The referee is hidden in some office, this man on the pitch is not the referee, he doesn’t make the decisions.
“The main decisions made in football now are being made by the man in the office.”