TERRIFIC TECH
Fans say ‘VAR is actually working’ after huge decision in League Two playoff final despite both managers NOT wanting it
The penalty would not have been overturned in a regular season League Two match
FANS hailed VAR after it correctly disallowed a penalty given to Crewe against Crawley in the League Two play-off final.
Crawley, who won promotion with a 2-0 win, led 1-0 seven minutes into the second half when Dan Long went through for Crewe.
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As he pushed the ball past keeper Corey Addai, he appeared to be brought down and a spot kick was awarded.
Referee Ben Toner was told to go to the monitor to look at the incident again, before he overturned his decision and waved away the spot kick after seeing that the keeper had got his foot to the ball.
He also scrapped the yellow card he had given to Addai.
VAR is not usually in operation for Football League matches, but is available in the play-off finals as they are being played at Wembley.
And while Premier League clubs are preparing to vote on potentially getting rid of the technology altogether, the VAR decision to send the referee to the monitor and disallow the Crewe penalty received widespread praise from those on social media.
One said: "VAR is actually working at this year's League Two playoff final.
"Got it right, but a massive let off for Crawley."
Another added: "HOW CAN YOU NOT SEE THAT VERY CLEAR TOUCH FROM THE CRAWLEY KEEPER.
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"Honestly, we DO need VAR. This astounding incompetence just cements that."
A third replied: "That was as blatant a dive as you could ever see. Once the ref had seen there was no contact, and cancelled the penalty and Addai's yellow card, SURELY he has to book Long.
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"And the Crawley players who were making VAR gestures to the ref, which is a mandatory booking."
While another fan had flagged that before the game both managers did not want VAR, saying: "I’m sorry - we go through a WHOLE League 2 season with no VAR.
"Neither manager wanted VAR for the final Yet there is VAR in the League 2 play-off final? Keep VAR out of this level of football 🤢."
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