VAR Could Lead To 40 More Penalties In Premier League-Tottenham Star

Jan Vertonghen fears that VAR will fundamentally change the art of Premier League defending – together with the emotion of the game – creating an environment in which players are scared to make any physical contact.

The Tottenham defender felt the impact of the technology on Tuesday night when his teammate, Danny Rose, was pulled up for handball inside the area against Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.

In real time, nobody seemed to notice the 10th-minute incident and not even the City players appealed. But after an inspection of the replays, the penalty decision was technically correct. Sergio Agüero saw his kick saved by Hugo Lloris and Spurs would run out 1-0 winners thanks to Son Heung-min’s 78th-minute goal.

Vertonghen does think that VAR will benefit the game in the longer term but it feels clear to him that there will be teething problems when it is introduced into the Premier League next season.

“So many things look like a penalty in slow motion – take the PSG-Manchester United game,” Vertonghen said, with a reference to United’s last-gasp VAR penalty following a dubious handball. “I think we have to change the way we defend. We are not pulling people down but even a small touch – if you watch it 20 times in slow motion, it will give so many more penalties. In the Premier League, you will see at least 20, 30, 40 more penalties in the next few years.

“No one expected it [City’s penalty] – they didn’t even appeal for it so it was extremely weird to concede a penalty like this. That’s VAR. In a way, it’s good. I’m not always a fan but at the end, everyone will benefit from it.

“I think it takes a lot away from the game. But like I said, at the end it will give you more. It can happen for us, as well. If we got a penalty in this way, I would be very happy. Football is always a very emotional game and VAR is changing that a bit. After VAR, you can’t complain. After the decision is made, the referee has checked it. There is nothing to appeal.”

Vertonghen said that defenders would become more anxious to stay on their feet and would also have to re-think, for example, their man-marking at set pieces.

“I remember we were talking more about defending corners or free-kicks,” he said. “You can’t even touch anyone. Before, it was quite physical but in a fair way. Now, you are too scared to get close to someone. We all need to adapt – the players, the referees. Sometimes, you can’t do anything other than put your body on the line and it’s important that referees think as football players sometimes.”

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