Harry Kane was clearly offside, claims Maurizio Sarri
The VAR system played a pivotal part as Tottenham Hotspur beat Chelsea 1-0 in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final at Wembley on Tuesday night. However, it was Harry Kane’s VAR-approved winner that fuelled plenty of controversies and reactions from the Chelsea camp, with manager Maurizio Sarri claiming that Kane was clearly offside.
Kane was flagged offside as he ran onto a through ball in the first half before being upended by Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. However, after consulting VAR – which judged Kane to be onside – referee Michael Oliver awarded a penalty to Spurs, which Kane converted.
Sarri watched the replay from different angles and interpreted from the club’s recording of the game that Kane was comfortably ahead of his marker.
“I saw the video from our camera a few minutes ago, it was offside,” said Sarri. “Our camera was in line with Kane, and it was offside, but it’s not important.
“With the head, it’s offside. But it’s not important. It was important that the linesman stopped the run, he didn’t follow the ball, so he had a big influence on our defenders, and at the moment I think the English referees aren’t able to use the system.
“If you’re not sure with this system, you have to follow the ball, and at the end of the move, you decide. In this case, he stopped. He didn’t follow the ball, so for our defender, it was offside.
“I don’t know about the goalkeeper, but for sure the defenders. It’s not important, you have to study the system. In Italy in the first period it as difficult to understand, but it’s very strange how in the Premier League there isn’t this system and it is in the Carabao Cup. It’s strange for us, the players and the referees.”
