Liverpool Fans Upset With VAR After Chelsea Avoid Penalty For ‘Near Identical’ Incident
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Liverpool fans are labelling VAR a joke after Chelsea avoided giving away a penalty against Leeds for a "near identical" incident to the one which saw Andy Robertson penalised against Brighton.
Robertson swung a boot to clear the ball and caught Danny Welbeck's foot last weekend. After a VAR review, Brighton were awarded a stoppage-time penalty which they converted to draw the game 1-1.
Many pointed out it was the kind of challenge that, while technically a foul, often goes unpunished in the area. And that has arguably been proven a week later, as Chelsea got away with a very similar incident while leading 2-1 at home to Leeds.
Ben Chilwell and Ian Poveda were both trying to play the ball right on the edge of the Chelsea area and it does appear as if the Chelsea full-back kicks Poveda's foot.
"Kevin Friend who gave the penalty against Robertson last week for the same thing has just said this wasn't a penalty for Leeds," pointed out Dean Coombes on Twitter. "Again VAR isn't the problem it's the people operating it."
It's certainly a long time since rival fans teased the Reds with LiVARpool taunts for the decisions that supposedly went in their favour. So far eight VAR reviews have gone against the champions this season, the highest number in the Premier League.
Sachin Nakrani of The Guardian shared a pair of images that appeared to show just how similar the incidents involving Robertson against Brighton and Chilwell versus Leeds were.
Liverpool fans reacted on Twitter calling the VAR process - and the officials in charge of it - "a joke" and "borderline corrupt".
Sorry Sachin, I have to correct you there. They're not near identical. They are completely identical. Other than that I'm with you. It's a complete joke to the point where I'm starting to think it's borderline corrupt now. Not fit for purpose is actually a generous view
- Gary The No-Trash Cougar (@notrashcougar) December 5, 2020
A penalty for Leeds could have changed the course of the game, as it would have allowed the visitors a chance to equalise at Stamford Bridge. As it is, Chelsea went on to win 3-1 and sit a point above title rivals Liverpool in the table.
Robertson and James Milner bemoaned the way VAR was being implemented after the Brighton result. Milner claimed he is "falling out of love with the game in its current state".
After watching Chelsea vs Leeds, many of his club's supporters are clearly feeling similarly frustrated.
Featured image credit: Twitter/Sky Sports/BT Sport
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