VAR chaos overshadows Man Utd’s dramatic win over Burnley
It was another weekend in the Premier League where the biggest talking point wasn’t the goals, the tactics, or even the managers’ reactions—it was VAR. Manchester United’s narrow 3-2 victory over Burnley at Old Trafford has once again reignited the debate about how video technology is affecting football.
The game itself had plenty of drama on the pitch. United twice took the lead, first through an unfortunate Josh Cullen own goal and then with a well-taken strike from Bryan Mbeumo. But Burnley refused to roll over, fighting back with goals from Lyle Foster and Jaidon Anthony to make it 2-2 heading into stoppage time. It felt like the match would end in a draw—until VAR stepped in.
The decisive moment came deep into added time when Anthony was judged to have pulled back Amad Diallo inside the box. Referee Sam Barrott had initially waved play on, believing the contact started outside the area. But after a lengthy review on the pitchside monitor—prompted by VAR Stuart Attwell—he changed his decision and awarded United the penalty. Bruno Fernandes kept his composure, slotted it home, and Old Trafford erupted. Burnley, meanwhile, were left fuming.
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Scott Parker, the Burnley manager, did not hide his frustration afterwards. He described the sport as becoming “the most sterile game there is,” blaming constant VAR interventions for killing the natural flow and emotion of football. Parker added that referees were no longer in charge on the pitch, with decisions instead being re-refereed by officials sitting in a room hundreds of miles away.
And it wasn’t only at Old Trafford where controversy struck. Earlier in the day, Fulham had two major decisions go against them in their 2-0 defeat at Chelsea. A goal from teenager Josh King was ruled out for what many saw as a very soft foul in the build-up, while a penalty was later awarded against Ryan Sessegnon for handball after a long VAR check. Fulham boss Marco Silva was furious, calling the disallowed goal “unbelievable” and refusing to comment further to avoid punishment.
The growing frustration isn’t limited to managers. Players, pundits, and fans alike have been questioning how far VAR should go. Every goal now seems to come with a pause, a check, and often several minutes of confusion before the crowd even knows whether to celebrate. Former professionals like Stephen Warnock and Steph Houghton admitted that while the Burnley penalty might technically have been correct, the constant forensic approach is sucking the joy out of the sport.
This sense of disillusionment is spreading quickly. From marginal offsides to accidental fouls in the buildup, teams are seeing potentially game-changing moments erased by the smallest of technicalities. Many are calling for ex-players to be included in VAR rooms, arguing that referees alone cannot always grasp the flow and intent behind every action on the pitch.
In the end, Manchester United celebrated a vital win, Burnley were left heartbroken, and fans across the country were left debating VAR once again. It was a reminder that in today’s Premier League, the technology in the booth can feel just as decisive as the players on the pitch.
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