Manager says video assistant referee only needs a few seconds to review decision
Sean Dyche has urged the Premier League to extend VAR’s remit after a controversial decision allowed his Nottingham Forest side concede from a corner against Manchester United.
Casemiro’s header to give United the lead at the City Ground came after the officials ruled the ball had gone out for a corner. It left Dyche furious when replays appeared to show a fraction of the ball was still on the line.
It was also the second weekend in a row that Forest conceded from a questionable corner, having seen a corner awarded to Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium against them when replays showed it should have been a goal kick.
“It’s not inconclusive – I’ve seen it back,” said Dyche. “Apparently today, the assistant referee can see 78 yards away. It’s got to change. That’s two in a week. Two decisions that are not right have gone against us in a week.”
The Forest head coach said his players were finding it difficult to accept repeated officiating errors.
“It’s very tough on the team to take decisions like that,” said Dyche. “We talk about the margins in football, we talk about VAR, why’s it not brought in?
“Last week, a really poor decision, cross goes in. This week, a really poor decision, cross goes in. Well, get VAR on it then because it takes eight seconds to go ‘it’s in’ or ‘it’s out’.”
Under current rules, VAR cannot review decisions for corner kicks, goal kicks or throw-ins.
“They said ‘decision made’,” said Dyche. “I said, ‘that’s fine – but he’s 78 yards away, surely there’s got to be a benefit of doubt to the defender. Why would you give it to the attacking team? I don’t understand. If there’s a benefit of the doubt either way, why would you do that?’
“I know the Premier League want more goals and fans want more goals, but at the end of the day that decides a lot. We’re fighting for our lives to get ourselves back up the table. Things like that, you don’t want them going against you.”
