Match of the Day’s Gary Lineker hit the nail on the head after commenting on the decision by VAR to allow Jonjo Shelvey’s goal last night.
Here’s what Lineker tweeted this after the match – which saw Shelvey score after the offside flag was raised, only for VAR to overrule the linesman on closer inspection (see clip below):
Shelvey was the only one on the pitch to play to the whistle when the assistant referee had raised his flag for offside. Referee Stuart Atwell had not stopped the play – and rightly so. Doing so would’ve spoilt a legitimate goal!
He ran through and finished cooly with Blades keeper Dean Henderson hardly making an attempt.
After reviewing the goal, VAR allowed the goal to stand and the away support went wild – much to Chris Wilder’s dismay.
VAR has arguably brought more controversy than clarity this season, but this decision was the right one when the rules of the game clearly state that the players play to the whistle.
That second goal was vitally important, giving us that breathing space in a game that we’d been under the cosh in for large parts.
Credit has to be given to captain Jonjo Shelvey for being clever enough to play on when all had stopped. It’s his third goal in his last five and another brilliant result for Bruce’s Mags.
Bring on Southampton on Sunday!
What was so stupid about the whole thing was that Shelvey says the ref had them in before kick-off and specifically told both teams that if the linesman flagged for offside and they had the chance of a goal, they should play on and let VAR sort it out after, essentially telling them to play to the whistle.
So Sheffield United deliberately chose not to play to the whistle, despite having specifically been told to do so by the ref.
Got what they deserve in my opinion, whinging gits!
Brrrian(Quote)
Haven’t seen anyone moaning specifically about the incident, just about their dislike of VAR and the ref doesn’t visit both teams together so may not have even had the same conversation. Moron.
Steve(Quote)