Fears huge VAR delays are leading to INJURIES after Spurs star Van de Ven left crocked following seven-minute stoppage

6 months ago 59

THE PFA fear that long VAR checks will lead to more player injuries.

Spurs defender Micky van de Ven is out for weeks after pulling a hamstring in a sprint following a SEVEN-MINUTE break in play during Monday’s 4-1 defeat by Chelsea.

The defender picked up the problem after a seven-minute delay to the match[/caption]

Tottenham fans suggested the delay may have contributed to the Dutchman’s injury, while Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou admitted he hates the way VAR has changed football.

And PFA chief executive Maheta Molango declared: “Intuitively I would say yes — that the stoppages like we saw on Monday will lead to injuries because players cooled down and then have to sprint straight away.

“Player welfare should be a big issue.

“But we are killing the product at the moment and that should be everybody’s biggest fear.

“I would prefer to speak about facts and figures and clear evidence rather than just a feeling.

“One of our ideas is to create a group of experts who can provide data so we know for sure. So that will be physios, coaches and doctors who can look at everything on the performance side.”

Van de Ven’s injury came after the game was stopped for THREE reasons on 27 minutes.

VAR firstly ruled out a strike from Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo for offside.

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Then, it recommended that ref Michael Oliver studied a challenge by Spurs defender Cristian Romero on Enzo Fernandez during the same passage of play.

By the time Oliver red-carded Romero there had been a five-minute break in the action.

And it was another two minutes before Cole Palmer scored the resulting penalty.

Van de Ven suffered his injury a few minutes later, while there was more than 21 minutes of added time over both halves.

Molango added: “We are playing a game where the decisions are taken by Ifab (the International Football Associations Board).

“It means the referees and players pay the price for them — because the voice of the people who are affected by these decisions is not being heard.

“They have to suffer because of decisions taken by people who are out of touch and are not actually part of what happens in football on the day-to-day basis, so they do not realise what they mean in practice.

“I agree with Ange Postecoglou. What type of football do we really want?

It is very difficult to comprehend when those mistakes are made by people who are just watching on a screen

Maheta Molango

“When you bring in VAR there are also consequences about how the game is played.

“If what we are trying to achieve is an error-free game, then we are going to fail.”

Mikel Arteta has been vocal in his demand for change – piling pressure on the referees with his public blasts.

The Arsenal manager was furious Newcastle’s winner was allowed to stand on Saturday, slamming the decision as an “absolute disgrace”.

And he doubled down on his anger by calling on his rival managers to speak about against “the stink of football”.

Molango added: “Even with VAR we are seeing mistakes. I would rather have mistakes from somebody who is on the pitch even if they are under pressure to make decisions.

“It is very difficult to comprehend when those mistakes are made by people who are just watching on a screen. That makes things more frustrating.

“What suddenly seems the most important thing is the amount of playing time or effective playing time.

“But is that what we should really care about?

“As a fan you don’t think about effective playing time but you want to see entertainment and quality.”