Newcastle legend sticks up for Southampton after VAR’s “huge error”

Southampton's loss against Wolves this weekend might have looked a lot different, had it not been for VAR. A Newcastle legend has sided himself with the Saints.

VAR is like Marmite. Some of us love it but a lot of us hate it. Even looking at the invention from a subjective manner, VAR is certainly not as popular as Marmite. It probably leaves an even more bitter taste in the mouth, too.

Southampton head into the November international break rock bottom of the Premier League table. However, this might not have been the case if it were not for VAR.

In the first half, Ryan Manning netted an equaliser against Wolves. This goal was given by the referee, but then overturned following a VAR intervention. The reason for the intervention was a foul on Nelson Semedo, committed by Mateus Fernandes, in the buildup to the goal.

Newcastle legend sticks up for Southampton after VAR’s “huge error”

However, the VAR intervention was not without its controversy. Even the fact that the referee, Thomas Bramall, was forced to rewatch the buildup signifies that a big error was made by one of the parties.

Speaking after the match, Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer was not happy with the decision. In fact, he sided with Southampton by claiming that the overturn was a big mistake.

In his own words, Alan Shearer said: “I think they [Southampton] have been really hard done by here. Semedo actually does, he steps right across him. He blocks him. And the referee doesn’t give a foul here."

Shearer finalised: “Whatever happened to the high bar and to the referee’s call? Because the ref gives nothing, the ref gives the goal. So then the VAR thinks he has made an error, huge error, and they sent him to the screen. I think they got that totally wrong.”

VAR definitely did not work in favour of Southampton at the weekend. In fact, the technology felt like a dagger in the hearts of Southampton.

It must be added, though, that Southampton did not cover themselves in glory. While we can look at the disallowed goal as a catalyst for the dropped points, we must not act completely hard-done-by.

Even if the goal stood, Russell Martin's side would've had to play a lot better than they did throughout the match. After all, Southampton dominated possession but they were rather wasteful with it in the final third.

After the break, more creative flow and end product are required in the opposition half.

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