Referees no longer have “authority”: Ange Postecoglou speaks on VAR decisions

Tottenham Hotspur manager, Ange Postecoglou has voiced out his frustrations over the video assistant referee after his side 3-2 loss to Arsenal.

Arsenal kept up its push for the Premier League title with a 3-2 win at Tottenham Stadium on Sunday night despite Tottenham attempting a late comeback.

The Gunners were leading 3-0 at halftime. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg scored an own-goal in the 15th minute to put Arsenal ahead and Bukayo Saka doubled the visitors’ lead in the 27th.

Kai Havertz added a third in the 38th. However, Tottenham cam fighting in the second half when Cristian Romero pulled a goal back and Son Heung-min converted in the 87th to set up a tense finish.

Speaking after the match, Ange Postecoglou expressed his concerns with the use of VAR during the game, claiming the on-field referees no longer have “authority” to make calls.

“The games are not refereed in the stadium anymore,” Postecoglou said.

“They are refereed somewhere else and no one will convince me otherwise. It’s not even re-refereed, it’s refereed somewhere else. That’s why I don’t celebrate goals anymore. I wait for somebody down the road.

“I just don’t think referees in the stadium anymore have the authority they used to to make decisions. They just go, ‘You know what, I’ll just wait and see what the bloke down the road thinks’.

“It’s a shame, I don’t like it but it’s here to stay and I’ve got to accept it like everyone else’s.

The 3-2 loss ensures Spurs must win their next two games to have any chance of contending for a Champions League qualification.

Tottenham are currently behind fourth-placed Aston Villa – who are seven points clear but have played two extra games.