We've been complaining about VAR all season long in the Premier League, but on Saturday, we had a new villain.
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So close! Goal Decision System stuffs Spurs
Saturday morning's early fixture between Watford and Tottenham was one of the more entertaining 0-0 draws we've seen this season, as a penalty save by Paulo Gazzaniga kept it level with 20 minutes remaining and both sides went for a late win. But then, in the dying throes of injury time, came the biggest moment of drama.
Erik Lamela bundled a Serge Aurier cross towards goal in a mad scramble and the ball's deflection off Adrian Mariappa's back sent it curling beyond Ben Foster in the Watford goal, seemingly destined for the back of the net. Except Ignacio Pussetto, Watford's newest signing, was able to hook it clear before it crossed the line.
VAR's thunder stolen by the Goal Decision System in the #PremierLeague today rising to the fore again pic.twitter.com/lcLPwNWrhA
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) January 18, 2020
Instead of VAR being required to make yet another probably contentious decision, the positively old-fashioned Goal Decision System popped up on the ref's watch and showed that it indeed should not have been given.
According to the image above, enough of a sliver of the ball was touching the line and therefore meant it was not a goal.
No three-minute wait. No fans waiting for a giant video screen to celebrate. Just a man looking at his watch.
Honestly, it was the right decision and Spurs can't feel too aggrieved by the call -- the technology is fairly cut and dried -- though it was just nice for a change that we didn't have to moan about the folks watching television miles away from Vicarage Road interrupting the match.