'VAR is creating a lot of damage' – Conte fumes after Kane denied in chaotic finish

By Sports Desk October 26, 2022

Antonio Conte accused the VAR of "creating a lot of damage" after Harry Kane saw a 95th-minute goal disallowed in a chaotic 1-1 draw with Sporting CP, claiming other big clubs receive more favourable calls than Spurs.

Tottenham thought they had sealed a spot in the Champions League's last 16 with a game to spare on Wednesday, when Kane rifled home at the last after Rodrigo Bentancur cancelled out Marcus Edwards' opener.

However, Kane was ruled to have been offside from Emerson Royal's knockdown following a three-minute VAR review, leaving the hosts incensed. 

Conte was dismissed by referee Danny Makkelie as the Tottenham bench erupted in protest following the decision, and he continued to express his fury in his post-match interview.

"About the end, I think that the ball was in front of Kane and the goal is a goal. I don't understand the VAR, the line that they put," Conte told BT Sport.

"It's very difficult to comment on this decision and VAR, I think, is creating a lot of damage. 

"I want to see if, in another stadium or with another big team, they are ready to disallow this type of goal. I'd like to know this.

"[I see] a lot of injustice. I don't like this type of situation. I see no positive things."

Conte was equally bemused by the decision to show him a red card, having been one of several members of the Spurs bench to spill onto the pitch in the aftermath of Kane's strike.

"All the people came inside the pitch after the decision to disallow the goal," Conte added. "He came to give me a red card, maybe because I was the most popular person going onto the pitch."

The result – coupled with Eintracht Frankfurt's 2-1 win over Marseille – leaves Group D finely balanced, with just two points separating all four teams after five games. 

That means Spurs will need a draw to secure a top-two finish when they visit the Stade Velodrome next Tuesday, but Conte was reluctant to look beyond Wednesday's contentious finale.

"It's only one point, but I don't understand why we have to wait for another game when we could finish the qualification in this game," Conte added.

"When you invent this type of situation, which is incredible, you create a lot of damage to the club, and you create problems." 

Related items

  • Al Hilal 3-1 Al Fateh: Neves on target as Saudi giants close in on title Al Hilal 3-1 Al Fateh: Neves on target as Saudi giants close in on title

    Al Hilal moved 12 points clear of Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr at the top of the Saudi Pro League as Ruben Neves scored in a 3-1 win over Al Fateh on Friday.

    Former Wolves star Neves slotted in from the penalty spot in the 74th minute, as Al Hilal completed a rapid comeback.

    Having fallen behind to Lucas Zelarayan's 57th-minute opener, Al Hilal responded swiftly through Micheal before Salem Al Najdi fouled Mohammed Al Qahtani in the penalty area.

    Ex-Barcelona winger Cristian Trello and Al Fateh coach Slaven Bilic were booked for their complaints, with Neves making no mistake, paving the way for Ali Al Bulayhi to seal victory in the 15th minute of an extended period of stoppage time.

    Data Debrief

    Al Hilal have now won 21 games on the spin in the league. They have scored 86 goals across their 28 matches this season, winning 26 in total.

    They had 19 shots on Friday, accumulating 2.34 xG to Al Fateh's 0.25, with pass-master Neves creating three chances to go along with his goal.

  • RFEF elects Rocha as new president RFEF elects Rocha as new president

    The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has confirmed Pedro Rocha as its new president.

    Rocha has been elected as Luis Rubiales' replacement, despite being under investigation for corruption.

    He had been serving as interim president since Rubiales resigned in September over the scandal caused when he kissed player Jenni Hermoso following Spain's Women's World Cup triumph in August.

    In a statement released on Friday, the RFEF said: "Pedro Rocha has today been proclaimed the new president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), after having received the support of the majority of the assembly members of this institution that governs Spanish football.

    "The process followed the procedure agreed by the Electoral Commission, which met this morning, and the timetable that was established for these elections."

    Rocha has been under investigation since earlier in April, after the RFEF's headquarters was raided by police last month. The Spanish government announced on Thursday that it would be stepping in to oversee the running of the organisation.

  • Guardiola insists three teams still in title hunt despite Liverpool slip-up Guardiola insists three teams still in title hunt despite Liverpool slip-up

    Pep Guardiola insists Liverpool remain in the Premier League title race, despite the Reds losing further ground on Arsenal and Manchester City in a dramatic few days at the summit. 

    Liverpool suffered a surprise 2-0 defeat to Merseyside rivals Everton on Wednesday, a result which meant they failed to close the gap to Arsenal after the Gunners thrashed Chelsea 5-0 on Tuesday.

    While Jurgen Klopp's men couldn't respond to the Gunners pulling clear, City did on Thursday, with Phil Foden scoring twice in an emphatic 4-0 win over Brighton at the Amex Stadium.

    One point behind Arsenal with a game in hand, City know five wins from their five remaining matches will seal an unprecedented fourth successive English top-flight title.

    However, Guardiola expects further twists and turns in the coming weeks.

    Asked if Liverpool were still in contention after City's win, Guardiola told Sky Sports: "Yeah. Many things can happen. 

    "What happened with Liverpool, losing to Crystal Palace and Everton, can happen to us. It can happen to Arsenal. No-one is safe. We have to rest. Now it is just about recovering for the next one.

    "We have been here in the past but being here in the past doesn't mean it is going to happen. We have to do the things to make it happen."

    City's comprehensive win – in which Kevin De Bruyne scored his first headed goal in the Premier League – saw them cut Arsenal's goal difference advantage to eight goals.

    However, Guardiola believes it will be tough for City to close that gap, saying: "It is difficult to cut. The margin is so big. They score a lot of goals and don't concede. 

    "The main thing is to win the games. We have five games left and they are tough ones – it's a lot of games. We'll take it one game at a time."

    Foden's first goal against Brighton – a deflected free-kick – saw him become just the third player to score 50 top-flight goals under Guardiola while aged 23 or younger, after Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi.

    Foden is the favourite to be named Premier League Player of the Season, and while Guardiola believes he should be in contention, he says his player is more concerned with team honours.

    "For sure, but he wants to win the Premier League," Guardiola said when asked if Foden deserved individual honours. "His influence in the final third was better than in the last two or three games. Today he was more calm, his decision-making was good and to score goals is always good."

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.