Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has joined the chorus of criticism surrounding Jean-Philippe Mateta’s contentious equalizing goal for Crystal Palace against Leicester City. Ferdinand, now a pundit for BT Sport, was scathing in his assessment of the goal, which was allowed to stand despite appearing to be offside. “That’s a ridiculous decision,” Ferdinand said. “Mateta is clearly offside, and the VAR system has failed again. It’s a joke.”
Ferdinand’s criticism was echoed by many fans and pundits, who took to social media to express their frustration with the decision. The former defender continued, “I don’t know what the officials are looking at. It’s clear as day that Mateta is offside. This is a major error, and it’s cost Leicester City a win.”
Ferdinand also questioned the consistency of VAR decisions, saying, “It’s the same old story with VAR. One week it’s given, the next it’s not. There’s no consistency, and it’s confusing for everyone involved in the game.”
Leicester City manager Steve Cooper also expressed his disappointment with the decision, saying, “We’re disappointed with the goal, it’s clear that Mateta was offside. We’ve seen the replay, and it’s frustrating that VAR didn’t pick it up.”
The controversy surrounding Mateta’s goal has sparked a wider debate about the use of VAR in football, with many calling for greater clarity and consistency in refereeing decisions. Ferdinand’s criticism has added weight to the argument, and it remains to be seen how the authorities will respond to the growing discontent.
As former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg noted, “The VAR system is only as good as the people using it. If the officials are not trained properly, or if they’re not making the right decisions, then the system fails.”
The incident has also raised questions about the training and expertise of VAR officials. If they are unable to make accurate decisions, then the system is flawed. Ferdinand’s criticism has highlighted the need for urgent improvement in this area.
“The implementation of VAR has been a disaster, and it’s clear that those in charge have no idea how to use the technology effectively,” said football analyst and commentator, Andy Gray. “We’re seeing game after game where VAR is either not being used correctly or is making decisions that are clearly wrong. It’s time for a complete overhaul of the system and a re-training of all officials involved. The fans deserve better, the players deserve better, and the game deserves better. This can’t continue, it’s a farce.”