Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou livid after ‘ireelevant’ VAR controversy

The substitution didn’t sit well with the Spurs faithful, who began jeering their own manager in frustration. But moments later, Pape Matar Sarr seemed to silence the critics by finding the back of the net out of nowhere. Ange Postecoglou, in a defiant gesture, turned to the away fans and cupped his ears—an apparent message that he stood by his decision. However, the celebration was short-lived. After a lengthy VAR review, the goal was ruled out for a foul in the buildup, leaving the Australian manager red-faced and only deepening the divide between himself and the travelling support.

Ange Postecoglou on controversial VAR decisions

Postecoglou’s side thought they had found a lifeline against Chelsea on Thursday night, only for VAR to intervene and chalk off the goal. Pape Matar Sarr was deemed to have fouled Moisés Caicedo in the buildup, with his studs catching the Chelsea midfielder high on the knee. While the decision was ultimately correct, the lengthy six-minute VAR review completely stalled Spurs’ momentum. The delay not only deflated the players but also disrupted their rhythm, and from that point on, the Lilywhites struggled to mount any serious attacking threat for the remainder of the match.

Speaking in his presser after the game, Ange Postecoglou was quite displeased with how VAR has costed his side time and time again. The Tottenham manager said (as transcribed by Football.london),

“It’s going to be refereed by AI soon. Like I said, we might as well dispense with the players at some point when some genius comes up with a game with no participants at some point. Referees aren’t refereeing. If anyone believes when VAR was brought in we would be sitting around for six minutes with a microscope. It’s irrelevant if it’s a foul. It’s totally irrelevant. Then they will say they came to there with decision. But that’s irrelevant.”

Ange then went on to add,

“I don’t like it, mate, I’ve never liked it, I don’t see how it’s benefitted our game, I don’t think anyone would have complained if they went with the referee’s decision because you get some good, you get some bad and you get on with it and the game finishes in 93 or 94 minutes and the game flows rather than us all sitting around waiting. I think that’s one thing that won’t get misinterpreted by me, I’m pretty consistent with my stance on it.”

Postecoglou didn’t hold back in his criticism of VAR, making it clear that the technology is disrupting the flow of the game rather than improving it. The Spurs boss was visibly frustrated with the amount of time taken to reach decisions, arguing that it killed the momentum and ultimately hampered his team’s chances against Chelsea.

That said, the VAR call in this instance was a fair one. Replays clearly showed Pape Matar Sarr’s studs making high contact with Moisés Caicedo’s knee in the buildup to the disallowed goal. While the referee being called to the monitor raised a few eyebrows, the foul was evident, and the decision to overturn the goal, though deflating for Spurs, was correct.

Postecoglou is undoubtedly feeling the heat as Tottenham continue to falter, with results failing to go their way. The pressure is mounting ahead of a crucial Europa League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt in a tie that could ultimately determine his future at the club. With the fanbase growing increasingly disconnected from both the players and the manager, Postecoglou will be desperate to steady the ship, restore belief, and spark a turnaround before it’s too late. The upcoming fixture could be make-or-break for the Australian’s tenure at Hotspur Way.