Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker believes the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) will ensure that the officials get the much needed assistance, especially with big calls.
Answering the questions to the media following another controversial decision in their MTN8 final defeat to Orlando Pirates, Barker was of the opinion that VAR would have intervened to assist referee Abongile Tom make a correct decision.
Referee Tom controversially allowed Pirates to take a quick free-kick metres ahead of where the original foul had taken place resulting in forward Tshegofatso Mabasa scoring to give the buccaneers a lead in referee’s added time.
“I’m not sure, I think there had been at some stage a point that they were looking to target the final – this one – to implement VAR, but unfortunately they did not,” Barker told the media after the MTN8 final.
“But it just seems like there’s far too many big calls that are not going the right way, and I think the intervention of VAR will help.
“Refs are human, I don’t think the refs go and purposefully make the mistake, it’s just that a lot’s happening, it’s the 90th minute of a cup final, they take a quick free-kick, he suddenly looks, it’s a goal.
“He’s got that decision to make – do I let it stand, do I not let it stand? He’s elected to let the goal stand, so VAR intervention, I believe, would have said, ‘Listen, re-take, re-start, it wasn’t taken at the right place, you were still speaking to the players.’
“He hadn’t even seen what happened, hopefully sanity would have prevailed and we would have had, maybe, an interesting extra-time.”
Written by: Diski Voice
