Jose Mourinho is an extremely loquacious and very opinionated guy- that’s not news. However, the Manchester United manager hasn’t really opined in extreme detail on the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) debate, until now.
The Football Association is testing VAR in both domestic competitions (FA Cup, League Cup) this season, and about a month ago, Chelsea Manager Antonio Conte stated his belief that if the FA are going to have VAR technology available, they better use it and be consistent in how they use it.
VAR hasn’t been utilized in all FA Cup and League Cup competition, but United will play for the first time in a VAR game on Saturday, when they take on Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup fifth round. In an interview with MUTV, the club’s official site video channel, Mourinho spoke optimistically and positively about the idea.
“When people ask us if we like it, if we don’t like it, if we agree with it or don’t agree with it, I think honestly it’s a question for the referees. They want to perform the best they can. They don’t like to make mistakes, and sometimes they make mistakes because it’s a human mistake and you cannot go over it unless you have some technological support,” Mourinho said.
“So if the referees are happy with that technological support, then yes, let’s go for the VAR. I think, from my perspective, I like the feeling. Of course, they need adjustments. They need to make sure that they don’t change the dynamic of the game too much, the emotion of the game too much — people waiting a couple of minutes to know if they can jump [and celebrate] because it was a goal.
“But from my professional perspective, I like the feeling of a right decision is coming. It’s a penalty or not a penalty, it’s hand ball or not hand ball, it’s a red card or not a red card. I think a fair decision is a feeling that I like.”
United just beat Huddersfield 10 days ago at home, 2-0, avenging the road they suffered at the hands of the Terriers earlier this season. United head into the away match this weekend as huge favorites, with the Red Devils showing as 7/50 odds to win, a draw at 29/4, with Huddersfield backed at 18/1.
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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