Kane’s VAR-assisted penalty vexes Spurs, Chelsea coaches

By: Rob Harris, The Associated Press Posted: 3:59 PM CST Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019 Last Modified: 7:33 PM CST Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019

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LONDON - By improving the accuracy of refereeing decisions, video review was meant to cut out moaning from coaches. The Tottenham and Chelsea managers have other ideas.

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LONDON - By improving the accuracy of refereeing decisions, video review was meant to cut out moaning from coaches. The Tottenham and Chelsea managers have other ideas.

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LONDON – By improving the accuracy of refereeing decisions, video review was meant to cut out moaning from coaches. The Tottenham and Chelsea managers have other ideas.

Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham benefited from a VAR decision on Tuesday — with Harry Kane winning and converting a penalty in the League Cup semifinal first leg against Chelsea — but the manager still grumbled about the technology.

“I don’t like,” Pochettino said after the 1-0 win. “I think it is not clear what are the rules.”

Tottenham's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring his side first goal during the English League Cup semifinal first leg soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium in London, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri readily agreed, unhappy about how the penalty was awarded at Wembley Stadium in a rare use of VAR in English football. After a lengthy delay, replays determined Kane was onside and then fouled by goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga when he rushed clear on goal in the first half.

Recalling how VAR was a “disaster” when first introduced in Serie A last season, Sarri claimed Chelsea’s own camera gave a more accurate reading of Kane’s positioning than the broadcast feed.

“Kane was offside, clearly offside,” Sarri said. “But it’s not important. It’s more important that the linesman stops the run. He didn’t.”

While previously a referee’s assistant would wave for offside and play would be stopped, officials are now encouraged to let the game continue until the attack has been completed and the incident can be reviewed.

“For the players on the pitch it’s clearly offside and so he had a big influence on our defenders,” Sarri said. “So I think they need to study better the system and it’s very strange in the Premier League there is not this system and then in the (League) Cup there is this system. It’s strange for the players … and referees.”

Kane, naturally, was delighted to score his 160th goal for Tottenham in the 26th minute, moving to fourth place on the club’s all-time scoring chart.

“I made the run, just played to the whistle,” Kane said. “I nicked it round the ‘keeper and I think it’s a clear penalty. It’s just whether it’s offside or not. VAR is there for a reason and I’m sure they got it right.”

VAR is only used in England in some cup matches before its rollout across the Premier League next season.

“We still have six months to improve the system,” Pochettino said. “There’s a lot of work to do.”

Tottenham's Harry Kane, falls as he challenges, Chelsea's goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga during the English League Cup semifinal first leg soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium in London, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Andreas Christensen won’t want to see any replays of the second-half chance to equalize that he squandered. The Chelsea defender missed an open goal after being unmarked when he met Eden Hazard’s cross in the second half.

TROPHY DROUGHT

Kane’s goal allowed Tottenham to complete a run of three consecutive victories against Chelsea in all competitions for the first time since the early 1960s.

Tottenham has finished above Chelsea in two of the last three Premier League seasons, although the west London club won the title in the other year.

Winning his 250th match in charge of Tottenham pushes Pochettino closer to winning a trophy that has eluded him. The League Cup is the last trophy won by the club 11 years ago.

The second leg of the semifinal is at Stamford Bridge on Jan. 24, with the final back at Wembley — Tottenham’s temporary home — a month later.

“There is going to be a bit more pressure on them to come out and attack us in the reverse leg,” Tottenham defender Danny Rose said. “But we’re one of the best counter-attacking teams in the league so we are looking forward to it.”

RACISM

Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta, left, argues as Referee Michael Oliver, right, gives a yellow card to Chelsea's goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, after a video review, during the English League Cup semifinal first leg soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium in London, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

The buildup to the Tuesday’s game saw Tottenham and Chelsea urge fans to behave themselves after a focus on recent incidents of discriminatory abuse.

But three men were arrested at the game for racially aggravated public order offences. Police did not specify which team they supported, only listing their ages as 17, 20 and 23.

Before the game, the Metropolitan Police tweeted to say it was working with clubs “to ensure hate crime, including racism and anti-Semitic language, is tackled robustly. Any instances of such behaviour will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.”

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