Conte fumes at Spurs penalty decision, claims VAR should not be used in PL

Antonio Conte has blasted VAR’s decision to intervene after Tottenham were awarded a penalty in the first half against West Ham.

Referee Peter Banks pointed to the spot in the 12th minute as Harry Kane’s header from Ivan Perisic’s cross seemed to strike Aaron Creswell’s outstretched hand.

However, VAR asked the referee to re-watch the incident on the sideline monitor and Banks decided to overturn the call.

That did not sit well with the Spurs bench, with Conte, Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason all seen expressing their discontent with the fourth official.

Conte insisted after the game that Banks had made the right decision but the VAR had “embarrassed” the on-field referee by questioning his call.

The Tottenham head coach also pointed to the decision not to show a red card to Steve Cook during his side’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest and asserted that he, as well as many of his colleagues, do not want VAR to be used in the Premier League.

Conte told Football.London: “It’s difficult also to explain because you know very well that I don’t like to comment on refereeing decisions. I never did this in England.

“But today, I like to comment on the decision because it was the right one, and I said to him at the end of the first half but with a smile, not in a polemic way.

“But with a smile, I said you have taken the right decision, and then the VAR called you, and the VAR for sure embarrassed the referee because to make him change the right decision was really, really strange.

“But for managers, for players to accept the mistake of the referee during the game is ok – because a refereeing decision can sometimes be positive and negative. At the end of the season, there is always a balance. But to accept this type of situation.

“Don’t forget against Nottingham Forest, the player went with his hand and penalty, clear situation, red card, no. Today was clear. I know the rule. The problem is when there are people behind a monitor with the video.

“They have a lot of time – they have taken a lot of time – I also listen to the crowd’s whistles. The crowd in England don’t like the VAR, no?

“This is very, very clear. But I think they are right. Because if these are the decisions, it’s incredible. Or they don’t know the rules.

“This is not the first time because I have seen many times, situations with VAR onside, the same situation offside in another game because there is one finger or the line is gone. In England, it is better to cut off VAR for the crowd and us.

“For me, for my players, for every coach, every player at all the clubs, you accept the referee’s decision, positive or negative, because these are human mistakes.

“With the monitor, you see the situation, and it can be a human mistake. I don’t want to think anything.

“But I repeat, I’m really disappointed, these people, they stay behind the monitor, they have to pay more attention, they have to study, I don’t know… In England, I spoke with the other managers, and no one is happy about this situation.”

Spurs Web Opinion

While Cresswell’s arm was in an unnatural position, the replays clearly showed the ball hit his head first and then came onto his arm. I would have been furious if a penalty had been given against Spurs for an incident like that. So, in the end, I think the right decision was made.

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