Football fans have questioned the effectiveness of VAR once more after a controversial referee call resulted in Manchester United having a lead scrapped off. Prior to Edinson Cavani putting the ball in the back of the net, Scott McTominay was deemed to have fouled Hueng-min Son before making the pass to Paul Pogba to assist for the goal.
The Scot, before striding forward to make the final pass to the Frenchman, had his hand making contact with the face of the South Korean midfielder in the face as he trailed behind after a failed attempt to get hold of the United midfielder. Albeit softly catching the Spurs attacker, he immediately went down before United took the lead. Following a lengthy review which saw referee Chris Kavanagh take to the pitch-side monitor to have another look at the incident, the goal was chalked off.
However, McTominay evaded any sanction and a sending-off after picking up a yellow card in an earlier incident. The Manchester United bench reacted to the turn of events with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer moving over to the fourth official to voice his grievances. Earlier, Marcus Rashford has been denied a penalty after a similar incident involving Eric Dier.
"It is embarrassing. This is not football anymore."
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 11, 2021
"If that is a foul we may as well all go home now"
Roy Keane and @MicahRichards left fuming by Manchester United's disallowed goal! pic.twitter.com/yGt7cVNdXW
Less than five minutes after the Red Devils were denied an opener, Tottenham put together a brilliant move and had Hueng-min Son finshing sublimly after poor defending by Victor Lindelof. Here is how Twitter reacted to the incident:
#TOTMUN
— Sae MD (@DrSae1990) April 11, 2021
Chris Kavanagh ruling out Man United goal after Son's Oscar performance moments after ignoring Rashford's foul is worthy of him being suspended from overseeing any match in #EPL pic.twitter.com/E82reR2moW
Rashford fouled - replays clearly showed this - and Tyler goes 'why's he holding his face?' as if it makes it less of a foul. Why can't he hold his face? Does it mean his ankle wasn't kicked?!
— Wayne Barton (@WayneSBarton) April 11, 2021
Then Son goes down as if floored by Rocky Balboa himself. Modern football
Rashford was not given a penalty for the exact same foul that McTominay committed on son just a few minutes before United's disallowed goal. This ref has ZERO consistency. Yes, it's the ref's fault, the VAR left it on him to decide.
— Samu (@UTDSamu) April 11, 2021
Sick to death of football with VAR.
— Alexei (@MUFC_redarmy99) April 11, 2021
That same 'foul' by McTominay happened to Rashford a minute earlier and wasn't a foul.
No consistency, no enjoyment anymore.
So Rashford gets knocked in the face and that's okay but as soon as there's a goal involved it suddenly becomes a foul?
— Andy (@amityandy) April 11, 2021
When we say consistency this is what we mean... Rashford was brought down at the edge of the box... VAR claimed it was minimal didn't award it... McTominay feels Son's hand on his body and tries to shrug it off, brushes Son's face... they cancel the goal, foul in build up #TOTMUN
— . α (@AwosanyaAdeboye) April 11, 2021
Mike Phelan reaction to Spurs Son Cheating denying Cavani a great goal is what every Manchester United fan feel right now!
— Vishal Verma (@VishalVerma_9) April 11, 2021
Made Mctominay look like a Mike Tyson!#TOTMUN pic.twitter.com/2mE1Yen5ML