Newcastle United clinched the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, defeating Liverpool with a 2-1 victory. However, the match was not without its share of controversy, particularly involving the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. The late goal awarded to Liverpool after a lengthy VAR check sparked frustration from football pundit Gary Neville.
Liverpool's Federico Chiesa was initially flagged offside as he scored during second-half stoppage-time at Wembley. After an extended review by VAR officials, however, his goal was deemed legal. This decision did not sit well with former Manchester United player and current Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.
Neville has been outspoken about refereeing decisions throughout this season but took issue with this particular call due to the time it took for VAR to make a decision rather than any perceived error in judgment.
Fear of making mistakes?
In his critique of the situation, Neville suggested that it wasn't so much about an incorrect call but more about an apparent fear among referees of making mistakes. He expressed dissatisfaction with how long it took for VAR to award Liverpool's late goal.
Gary Neville, Manchester United legend, said:
"VAR took an age to make the decision, scared of their own shadow now to make a mistake."
Despite this controversy and delay, Chiesa’s goal ultimately didn’t change the outcome of the game as Newcastle had already established a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak.
Historic victory for Newcastle
The Magpies managed to hold on through more than 10 added minutes following Chiesa’s late strike securing their first major domestic trophy in seven decades. This triumph marks a significant milestone in Newcastle United's history and will undoubtedly be celebrated by fans across Tyneside.
On the other hand, Liverpool suffered another blow after being eliminated from Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain earlier in that week. The defeat means that Liverpool's manager, Arne Slot, will have to wait longer for his first trophy. Despite the setback at Wembley, Liverpool remains at the top of the Premier League.
While VAR continues to be a topic of debate among football fans and experts alike, its impact on this particular match was ultimately inconsequential in terms of the final result. However, it does highlight ongoing concerns about how VAR is implemented and used within matches - a discussion that Gary Neville seems more than willing to contribute to.
