Aston Villa manager, Unai Emery has discussed VAR following the mistake which saw Liverpool’s Luis Diaz’s goal ruled out.
Refereeing decisions have always been contentious but at the moment, it feels that every week it is only getting worse.
In the recent Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool match, an error ultimately resulted in the Reds suffering a 2-1 defeat.
Diaz went through on goal and smashed the ball low and hard into the bottom corner before VAR ruled it out for offside.
Replays clearly show that the Colombian was onside and the goals should have stood.
PGMOL have since released the audio of the VAR decision where some mistakes were clearly made by those involved.
There have been calls from certain corners to replay the game, not that this is looking likely.
What has Unai Emery said about VAR?
VAR has been in place since 2019, in the Premier League and mistakes were just as rife before that.
Emery agreed with this sentiment: “Before when we didn’t have VAR, there were a lot of mistakes – more than now. Now I can accept some mistakes in VAR. They are only a few… small mistakes.
“Of course for Liverpool, it was a big mistake in the last match against Tottenham but we have to accept because before, without VAR, there were more and more and more.”
Villa have been on the wrong end of their own decisions in the past. Some go their way like the penalty against Crystal Palace.
When discussing the VAR audio that was released, he said: “I listened to the conversation between the referees, because it’s popular, and they were concerned about their mistake.
“They couldn’t react they had started playing again. It’s a mistake. I accept it. Of course, for Liverpool, it is more difficult.”
Emery understands the perspective of Liverpool and VAR but feels that it can be a positive thing.
On that point: “For Jurgen too it’s more difficult but I accept it. I know before VAR came in there were more mistakes than now.
“But you have to accept it like before if there is a mistake. So no, no to a replay. You have to accept it like before when we were without VAR.”
These decisions go for you and against you over the course of a season. At the end of the day, mistakes happen and they will always happen.
