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talkSPORT host Alan Brazil and guests Harry Redknapp and Ray Parlour slammed VAR after ‘another diabolical night’ for the new technology in the Premier League.

After West Ham saw one of their goals chalked off in their victory over Chelsea on Wednesday, the controversy continued with two big calls on Thursday night’s clashes involving Tottenham and Manchester City.

Spurs boss Jose Mourinho was left absolutely seething – although he refused to talk about it, saying it would get him in trouble – after Harry Kane saw what would have been a precious equaliser against Sheffield United ruled out by the harshest of handball decisions.

 Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho couldn't believe why his side's equaliser was not allowed to stand
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Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho couldn't believe why his side's equaliser was not allowed to standCredit: getty

The striker slotted home to make it 1-1 at Bramall Lane just minutes after going behind, but play was pulled back for a handball by Lucas Moura, who accidentally grazed the ball was his arm after he was taken out by a defender.

It was a defining moment of the match, with Tottenham going on to lose 3-1, and Mourinho fumed after the match that referees are no longer on the pitch, they’re in a TV booth instead.

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A similar even occurred in Man City’s 4-0 win over Liverpool, although it didn’t alter the result, with Riyad Mahrez seeing his goal – what would have been City’s fifth of the night – chalked off after the ball hit Phil Foden’s arm when he was on the ground.

Despite working well in a lot of cases, VAR has more often come under heavy criticism in its first full season of use in the Premier League.

Or, perhaps more accurately, the way referees have used the system has come under fire.

And Mr Brazil was blowing his top o Friday’s talkSPORT Breakfast, saying: “It’s been two diabolical nights of VAR… again!

“I didn’t think it could get any worst after West Ham….

“I’m not trying to camouflage how poor Tottenham were, by the way, but I thought it hit his back, or his side… what did it hit, his elbow?

“It’s a joke! How can you give that as a handball?!

“I’ve said it before, stick it! I’ve had enough of VAR, I really have.”

Ray Parlour insists the VAR handball rule MUST be changed for next season after Tottenham and Man City controversy

Arsenal legend Parlour, meanwhile, believes these similar incidents occurring two nights in a row proves the rulebook needs to be changed to allow for more common sense.

He said: “We saw one in the evening as well against Man City for their fifth goal from Riyad Mahrez - Phil Foden’s going down and the ball has just touched him on the hand and he can’t do a lot about it.

“In the rulebook it’s the letter of the law, that’s the problem we’ve got. They’ve got to change the law, surely!

“Common sense says it’s a goal, but in the law book it’s handball, and it has to change if we’re going to have any common sense left in football.”

 City's fifth goal against Liverpoo, scored by Mahrez, was ruled out by VAR for a handball in the build-up
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City's fifth goal against Liverpoo, scored by Mahrez, was ruled out by VAR for a handball in the build-upCredit: getty

And former Tottenham boss Redknapp also blasted the VAR’s intervention in Spurs’ defeat and agrees with Mourinho, whose job is now under more scrutiny after his side’s latest defeat, with VAR partly to blame.

“It was a shocking decision,” said Redknapp.

“As the boys were saying, the rules are farcical, they’ve got to be changed.

“What are you supposed to do? He gets fouled and someone wellies the ball straight in his kisser from about a foot away… the whole thing was farcical.

“And Jose is right in that respect, in that the referee is not on the pitch anymore. He’s sitting up at Stockley Park watching the game and they’re refereeing from there now.”


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