Vincent Kompany Criticizes VAR Decisions After Defeat to Bournemouth
Vincent Kompany has come in for criticism from Liverpool fans after likening VAR decisions to “going to the casino” following Burnley’s 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday. The Clarets are now languishing in the relegation zone and Kompany was left frustrated by the officials’ use of the technology, which led to a late Jay Rodriguez equaliser being ruled out for offside following a five-minute VAR check.
Kompany’s Previous Comments on VAR
Kompany’s comments come in stark contrast to his response to a similar incident just a month ago. When Luis Diaz saw his strike against Tottenham wrongly ruled out for offside due to an unprecedented communication error, Kompany displayed much more understanding.
In his post-match press conference, Kompany said: “Mistakes are human. I like the fact there’s transparency and that people come forward, own their mistakes, that we get access to the footage. There might be a trend here where we get the young referees who need to learn Premier League game time or we get the guys who are just coming back and easing their way in but I’m sure with time and better results that can change.”
Other Managers’ Responses to VAR
Kompany is not the only Premier League manager who has urged Liverpool to simply live with the decision. When asked about the incident at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Erik ten Hag, Man United boss, simply replied “I trust them” when asked for his thoughts on the technology’s flaws.
The controversy that surrounded Liverpool’s trip to North London became a national news story, providing an opportunity for a spotlight to be shone on referees and bring about positive change.
Conclusion
It appears it is far easier to be empathetic about decisions when they haven’t directly impacted your team, with Kompany not the only Premier League manager who urged Liverpool to simply live with the decision. While Liverpool were attempting to drive change in a system that has been proven not to be fit for purpose, Man United boss Erik ten Hag simply replied “I trust them” when asked for his thoughts on the technology’s flaws.
Sadly, the tribal nature of football means that sympathy and good faith only extend so far. Some consistency might have helped, Vincent!