Ange Postecoglou says he doesn’t know why Var is “in the game at the moment” and has complained that the controversial refereeing system has stopped him enjoying the goals his Tottenham team scores.
Var came under added criticism last weekend when a key decision in Liverpool’s 2-1 win at Crystal Palace required referee Andy Madley to be shown footage of Will Hughes’ challenge on Wataru Endo no fewer than 24 times before a decision could be made.
That led to the match being delayed for four minutes and Spurs manager Postecoglou doubling down on his previous condemnation of Var.
“I don’t think it has been used in the manner it was brought in for so that’s the space we are in and I’m hoping that the people who are in charge simplify the whole process so everyone can understand why it’s in the game,” he said.
“I don’t know why it is in the game at the moment. It certainly hasn’t made things clearer or more enjoyable. Not for me, I still don’t celebrate goals like I used to.”
One challenge that the Australian doesn’t mind watching replays of, however, involved two of his players, in Tottenham’s 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest last season.
Brennan Johnson, then of Forest, took exception to some blatant showboating by Tottenham’s Richarlison – keepie-uppie near a touchline – and handed out instant vigilante justice with a scything foul.
The pair return as Tottenham team-mates on Friday night and their manager having backed Brennan for his actions, which earned him a yellow card.
“I reckon even if you did what Richy did as a kid, someone would give you a whack!” he said. “That’s just part of football. It’s all good.
“We don’t want to take all the fun out of the game but every player knows there’s a line and if you cross that line, somebody will bring you back into line pretty quickly. Brennan did that with Richy.”