Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has some issues with the video assistant refereeing ( VAR ) system, and how it used. He expressed those gripes after his side, reduced to nine men, narrowly escaped Norwich City in a FA Cup third round replay at home tonight.
The Football Association is testing VAR in both domestic competitions this season, and Conte believes that if the FA are going to have this technology available, they better be consistent in using it.
Official Graham Scott booked Willian for simulation, in an attempt to win a penalty and showed him a yellow card. Conte, who watched the play again on video replay, called the decision to book his forward forward for diving a “big, big mistake.”
“I think that we need to improve if we want to use this new system,” Conte said.
“The referee took quickly a decision to book Willian. That means you don’t have doubt. If we want to improve we have to wait to check with the person who is watching the game and then, if this person is sure 100 percent that it is simulation, go and book Willian.”
“Instead, I think the person watching the game at least must have a doubt. There is a kick to Willian and he should call the referee and tell him.”
Chelsea won 5-3 in a shootout, and will now face Newcastle United in the fourth round. Antonio Conte went on to say that if VAR must now be used, then he won’t put up with any major blown calls.
“If we want to use a new system, I can’t accept a big mistake. In this case, the Willian penalty was a big, big mistake,” he said.
“Not from the referee on the pitch, but from the person watching the game. If you’re watching the game and don’t see this situation…I hope the VAR wasn’t a referee because if you see that watching on television and don’t think that’s a penalty.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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