Fans have furiously slammed VAR after Chelsea were awarded a controversial penalty against Borussia Dortmund in their crucial Champions League tie on Tuesday.
Former Manchester City star Raheem Sterling fired Chelsea into a first-half lead against Dortmund at Stamford Bridge in their second-leg round-of-16 clash.
Dortmund, who beat Chelsea 1-0 in the first leg in Germany, suffered another major setback when Ben Chilwell’s cross hit the arm of midfielder Marius Wolf.
Referee Danny Makkelie was urged to head to the screen to make a decision by VAR before pointing to the spot for Chelsea.
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Kai Havertz stepped up for the initial penalty and sent Dortmund shot-stopper Alexander Meyer the wrong way, only for his strike to ricochet off the right-hand side of the post.
However, the penalty was retaken after around three Dortmund players had encroached, with Havertz stepping up again for the spot-kick.
The 23-year-old Chelsea star made up for his initial mistake by sending Meyer the wrong way again and burying the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
However, VAR’s controversial penalty call led to furious fans taking to social media and saying that it is “ruining” the sport.
“The Chelsea player encroached ahead of the Dortmund player, how’s that another penalty? How was it ever a penalty in the first place? VAR sucks,” one fan tweeted.
Someone else commented: “VAR ruining football, never a penalty and that two-yard encroachment had zero impact on him clearing the ball. A Chelsea player was actually further inside the box than any other Dortmund player.”
“Chelsea getting a penalty retake just kills football. VAR is fooked [sic],” a third Twitter user wrote.
And a fourth added: “VAR is ruining the sport of football. Retake a penalty? What a joke.”
While one fan posted: “That decision to retake the penalty was a disgrace. Chelsea players in the box, stuttered run up. VAR officials [are] a disgrace. Knit picking.”
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Topics: Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Champions League, Football
Adnan Riaz