Topics: VAR, Premier League, Bournemouth, Football, Handball, Newcastle United, Fan Reactions
Premier League fans have already had enough of VAR this season after Bournemouth were denied a winning goal following an incredibly harsh decision.
Bournemouth and Newcastle were drawing 1-1 on Sunday when Dango Ouattara headed home what he thought was an injury-time winner for the Cherries.
However, after a VAR check the goal was chalked off for handball, with the ball judged to have gone into the goal off Ouattara's arm.
The decision caused controversy as Bournemouth fans and neutrals felt the ball came off the player's shoulder rather than arm.
Advert
The official Premier League Match Centre account on X - introduced this season to explain VAR calls to fans - posted: "Ouattara’s goal is awarded on-field. The VAR overturned the decision as they deemed it to be a factual handball by Ouattara, therefore an on-field review was not required and the goal was disallowed."
On social media, fans were outraged by the decision.
"Bournemouth robbed of a perfectly good goal by VAR!!!" one fan wrote, while another commented on X: "They’re actually a disgrace. It’s gonna take for managers to protest on the pitch and stop the game until they get the right decisions."
a third viewer said: "I thought the sleeve line defined hand ball these days? Surely that’s closer to the shoulder than arm?"
A fourth commented: "Disgusting decision to rule that out, I feel for the Bournemouth fans."
Marcus Tavernier gave Bournemouth the lead late in the first half, before Anthony Gordon drew Newcastle level with 15 minutes left to play.
As well as the late disallowed goal, Bournemouth were left incensed when Newcastle midfielder Joelinton escaped a red card after he 'clotheslined' goalkeeper Neto.
