Peter Crouch unhappy with VAR ‘forensically’ analysing match incidents

Peter Crouch unhappy with VAR ‘forensically’ analysing referee decisions as he insists Brighton penalty would not have been given ’10 years ago’ with Joe Cole also unsure on the implementation of technology

Brighton snatched a late equaliser against Liverpool on Saturday thanks to another controversial VAR decision, which led to yet more calls for the way the technology is used to be changed. 

The referee went to the monitor to check a previously unnoticed incident between Andy Robertson and Danny Welbeck, where the Liverpool man had caught Welbeck’s boot as he tried to clear the ball. 

Pascal Gross scored the resulting penalty, but many said the incident should not have been checked by VAR in the first place.

A last gasp Brighton penalty by midfielder Pascal Gross denied Liverpool victory at the Amex

Andy Robertson caught Danny Welbeck's boot as he tried to clear the ball in the penalty area

Andy Robertson caught Danny Welbeck’s boot as he tried to clear the ball in the penalty area

‘I don’t like it, I am not a fan of it at all,’ said Peter Crouch on BT Sport after the game. ‘In the speed of the game I don’t think Brighton would have had any complaints at all.

‘But when you slow it down and look at it forensically it is a penalty. Welbeck gets there first and there is contact. But in the cold light of day without the replay we would have just played on.’

His fellow pundit Joe Cole agreed, saying: ‘With offside it is black and white, but for situations like that, I didn’t even see Welbs calling for it, but it is a penalty.’

’10 years ago it happens and we move on as there is not as much scrutiny,’ said Crouch. ‘But today, the referee goes over to the screen and he makes his decision.’

Peter Crouch was frustrated with how the penalty was only given after it was slowed down

Peter Crouch was frustrated with how the penalty was only given after it was slowed down

Stuart Atwell gave a penalty after looking at his monitor as a bemused Jurgen Klopp looked on

Stuart Atwell gave a penalty after looking at his monitor as a bemused Jurgen Klopp looked on

Even former Premier League referee Peter Walton has found VAR’s usage confusing. 

‘I’ve got to recalibrate my thinking,’ he told BT Sport. ‘VAR was brought in for clear and obvious errors. Just because there is contact, it doesn’t mean it is a foul. 

‘You can clearly see there is contact and you can give the penalty for that but the point I am trying to make is does VAR need to intervene for that? You should be refereeing in the context of the game.’

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was clearly bemused by the decision, and was later drawn into an argument in his post-match interview about fixture times. 

Joe Cole was also confused about the implementation, saying Welbeck didn't even complain

Joe Cole was also confused about the implementation, saying Welbeck didn’t even complain