Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri believes “English referees are not able to use VAR” after the system awarded Harry Kane the penalty that cost his team Carabao Cup semi-final first leg loss to Tottenham.
The only goal of the Wembley game came from the spot after referee Michael Oliver consulted the video assistant referee to check if Kane was onside before he was fouled by goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The VAR camera suggested Kane was onside, but Chelsea showed a screenshot of their own system after the game that suggested he was offside.
After a 93-second wait, Oliver gave the penalty and Kane scored his 160th goal for Tottenham.
“A few minutes ago I watched the video from our camera. It was offside. Our camera was in line with Harry Kane”, Sarri told Sky Sports.
“I don’t think English referees are able to use the system.
The Italian also noted that the English referees need to study the VAR system very well before usage.
“If you are not sure with the system, as a player you have to follow the ball and at the end of the action decide. But the linesman stopped and didn’t follow the ball – for our defenders it was offside. I don’t know about the goalkeeper but sure the defenders were affected.
“I think they have to study the system.
“It’s very strange in the Premier League there isn’t VAR and in the Carabao Cup there is the system. It’s very strange for us, the players and referees.”
The Premier League is set to introduce the system from next season.
