VAR NO GOAL
In a dramatic encounter between Burnley and Brentford, a late equalizer for Burnley was disallowed following a contentious VAR review, leaving fans and players frustrated. The match, which extended beyond the 100-minute mark due to the incident, saw VAR officials take nearly five minutes to determine whether Burnley’s Ashley Barnes had handled the ball before scoring. Despite the lack of conclusive video evidence, the goal was ultimately overturned, sparking debate and anger among the Burnley supporters.
Dermot Gallagher said: “Scott Parker did a brilliant interview afterwards, absolutely brilliant, where he said: ‘we know the rules and that’s it’ and he accepted it, which was very, very tough given the circumstances, so I have the utmost admiration for him. People will accept that, but what caused the boos and anger is the elongated check.”
Jay Bothroyd said: “My first thought was it’s hit his hand, it’s not going to be a goal. But when you slow it down, you can’t actually say for sure – 100 per cent – because he’s saying it’s hit his hip. I’m seeing the replay and I’m still not 100 per cent. His arm was very close, there’s no doubt about that, but it could have hit his hip. That was really unfortunate for Burnley, I have to say. It was a great game, but you can understand why all of the players are frustrated.”
Dermot Gallagher added: “They just want to be so sure so they just check and check and check. But I think that’s what upset everybody. For me, if I have to look at something over and over again, I’m actually going to talk myself out of it because my gut reaction was the be-all and end-all to me. Paul Tierney was the VAR and it’s his choice. This is factual, so it’s not one where you send the referee to the screen. It’s one where he goes: ‘Sam, I think it’s hit his arm, so you can disallow the goal’.”
The match’s conclusion was marred by the lengthy VAR deliberations, which left many questioning the efficiency and clarity of the decision-making process. The incident highlighted ongoing concerns about the use of VAR in football, particularly regarding the time taken to reach decisions and the lack of transparency in the process. This was not the only disallowed goal for Burnley in the second half, as Zian Flemming’s earlier effort was ruled out for offside, with Jaidon Anthony being marginally ahead of the last defender. The protracted nature of these reviews has reignited discussions about the impact of VAR on the flow and enjoyment of the game.
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