Man City boss Pep Guardiola demands explanation from Premier League on the use of VAR

Pep Guardiola demanded the Premier League offer clear explanations on the use of VAR after another catastrophe on Wednesday night.

Manchester City were denied a penalty on review after Phil Foden had been felled by Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy. VAR failed to definitively determine that McCarthy had not touched the ball when the incident was replayed.

Guardiola was left seething at the decision, made with the score still at 1-1, and suggested top-flight managers want answers.

Phil Foden was denied a clear penalty in the first half of Man City’s 5-2 win over Southampton

‘Oh my God,’ Guardiola said. ‘The VAR, oh my God. The penalty is incredible. The action, I don’t understand.

‘Maybe they [the league] will explain one day. Hopefully they can explain what is going on.

‘The referees are professionals. They have to do their jobs. I don’t see how Arsenal, the handball, against Burnley, is disallowed. Fulham in the Tottenham game. Explain it. Incredible.

‘I want football to be more clear. The right decisions. Tonight, the referee Jon [Moss] cannot see the foul, that can happen, but the VAR? You have to ask the right people why.’

Pep Guardiola was furious with the decision, yet another big VAR error in the top-flight

Leicester City and England midfielder James Maddison tweeted that Foden had been penalised for attempting to stay on his feet and score.

‘What made me so proud was the honesty from Phil,’ Guardiola added. ‘If we had lost 5-2 then I would make no comment. But we won, so I make it, otherwise it looks like an excuse.’

The City manager again criticised his players for gifting two goals away. ‘We have to improve,’ he said. ‘The first goal we conceded we gave to them. Hopefully we can learn it for the knockout games. If we don’t, we will be out.’