West Ham United: Phil Thompson fumes at VAR controversy v Aston Villa live on talkSPORT
Phil Thompson was left raging live on talkSPORT after VAR disallowed a late Thomas Soucek winner in the Premier League clash between West Ham and Aston Villa on 17 March.
The former Liverpool man insisted that the officials are always looking to disallow a goal which goes against the spirit of the game for the spectators.
He went on to question why decisions have to take so long, in the wake of the decision at the London Stadium setting a new record for the longest VAR check in the Premier League.
Speaking live on talkSPORT [08:43], Thompson fumed: “It should be cut off once it’s gone beyond a certain point. It’s like they’re searching to disallow a goal.
“The game is about goals, you’re thinking if they’ve got to look long and hard for so long, why do they have to take so long? Why do they have to draw lines [for offsides]?
“It’s a spectator sport. A spectator sport. If they’re ruining it for the spectator, then it’s not good for the game. If they’re coming to the right decisions – do it quickly then. We’ve seen a lot of them, look at some of the hand-balls, they should come to an earlier decision.
“That is my only problem, they search to disallow things. If it’s debatable, give the goal. That’s what the game is about.”
Phil Thompson fumes at latest West Ham VAR controversy
The controversial call which saw the game end 1-1 despite looking like West Ham had stolen all three points at the death has brought yet more negative attention to VAR which has been the topic of discussion all too often at the London Stadium.
Thompson is not the first to fume at the decision, and more specifically the length of time taken to come to the conclusion rather than whether it was correct or not, with officials being told they don’t have a clue.
Chris Sutton also questioned the inconsistency of decisions made by VAR officials as he suggested most football fans are now done with the technology after originally showing a willingness to give time and patience to develop.
The continued controversy surrounding VAR is not good for the game, almost as much as the VAR itself is proving not to be on numerous occasions, and calls like this one – whether the correct decision has been made or not – will not increase fan favour.
In other West Ham news, a new transfer priority has emerged ahead of the summer.
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