Mark Clattenburg reacts to Everton controversy v Aston Villa at Goodison Park
Mark Clattenburg fears that VAR is causing match officials not to use “common sense for clear and obvious decisions” after a controversial incident in the Everton draw with Aston Villa.
VAR was in the headlines once again this weekend, taking almost four minutes to rule out Alex Moreno’s opening strike at Goodison Park for a clear offside.
However, the former referee has pointed out that, although the same outcome should have been arrived at, the decision should have been much simpler by awarding a foul on Arnaut Danjuma.
“It took almost four minutes to rule out Alex Moreno’s goal as offside because it’s a difficult one to call, so I understand the delay,” Clattenburg wrote for Mail Sport on Monday (15 January, page 9).
“But all the officials had to do was look at the foul by Clement Lenglet on Arnaut Danjuma in the box and then the offside is irrelevant, and you crack on with the game.
“There’s an easy solution there, so we have to use common sense. VAR and referees are complicating things when they don’t need to.
“We saw in the Newcastle game against Manchester City on Saturday that Ederson got injured because the linesman didn’t put up his flag for a clear offside and that is a huge concern because we are not using common sense for clear and easy decisions.”
It’s not the technology, but those who use it
VAR continues to cause more problems than it is solving, leading to frustration, injuries and wrong decisions. Despite coming to the correct decision of no Villa goal, it was still unhelpful as a clear foul was missed.
This follows on from Everton’s recent turmoil with the technology, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin sent off against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup. The striker’s tackle was deemed acceptable by Chris Kavanagh at the time before he was advised to go to the pitchside monitor.
Once the referee goes to the pitchside monitor, there is usually only one outcome – Everton know this all too well. The officials continue to have no backbone, usually folding on their initial decision just because VAR have asked them to rewatch an incident.
But VAR is not going anywhere, now that it is involved in the sport. The technology is not the issue, though, rather those who are trusted to use it.
In other Everton news, a Toffees-linked player is now in advanced talks to secure a move to Sheffield United in the January transfer window.