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Man City v Tottenham: How does that incredible finish make you feel about VAR?

Last updated on .From the section European Footballcomments1244

VAR - Pep Guardiola

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola called it "cruel"; Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said "That is why we love football... anything can happen."

Both men lost their jackets in the bedlam of Raheem Sterling's disallowed injury-time goal - the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) ruling it out for offside and sending Spurs through to the Champions League semi-finals on the away goals rule.

Spurs players had been laid flat out on their back. The Etihad erupted. Guardiola had sprinted off down the touchline in celebration. Then he looked up at the big screen showing 'goal review', sank to his knees and put his head in his hands.

The stadium went silent. Then despair. Now the away end erupted.

Has there ever been a more dramatic end to a game of football? Was this a turning point for VAR in the mind of football fans?

BBC Radio 5 Live pundits:

  • BBC football correspondent John Murray: "It [VAR] adds a whole new dimension to a match of football."
  • Ex-England striker Alan Shearer: "In a game like this, when that ball hits the back of the net, the last thing on your mind is 'VAR - I'd better not celebrate'. From ecstasy to agony in 30 seconds."

What do you think about VAR?

Has that incredible finish to a remarkable game changed the way you feel about VAR?

Sixty seconds of an emotional rollercoaster - in pictures

Pep Guardiola and the Manchester City coaching staff celebrate
Man City boss Pep Guardiola and his staff believe they are through to the Champions League semi-final...
Tottenham Hotspur players
Spurs players dejected at what appears to be Raheem Sterling's injury-time winner...
VAR review
Hang on... a VAR review
Pep Guardiola falls to his knees on the touchline
Pep fears the worst. Pochettino has lost his jacket
Raheem Sterling
No goal. Sterling - denied a hat-trick - cannot believe it
Mauricio Pochettino and the Tottenham players celebrate
Pochettino leads the Spurs celebrations

Tell us what you think - add your comments to the debate below.

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1244 comments

  • Comment posted by mark harrison, at 09:54 18 Apr 2019

    @1 Whoever you support you wouldn't be happy if your team was beaten by an offside goal

  • Comment posted by Chris Fierce, at 10:02 18 Apr 2019

    Last night proved that it works as it should.
    We moan at refs for getting things wrong, now they have the help they needed so all is good.

  • Comment posted by andylsmith, at 10:08 18 Apr 2019

    Can't believe some people are still claiming handball, if the ball brushed his arm or hand, it had no impact on the direction of the ball, the only real contact was with his hip/thigh. Correct decision was a goal.

  • Comment posted by BearMcRowdy, at 10:03 18 Apr 2019

    VAR is a force for good. Both decisions were correct last night in City game. So many people have said something like "tight call" or "could have gone either way" when talking about Spurs third goal. That means it was correct not to reverse the goal as it wasn't clear or obvious an error had been made. City goal was offside.

    I think VAR is gradually being better implemented. Glad it's here.

  • Comment posted by Rover and out, at 09:58 18 Apr 2019

    One of the most exciting games I’ve ever watched! I don’t see how you couldn’t use VAR when there is so much riding on the result. Imagine the outcry if It hadn’t have been used and the goal had been given. With the right people in charge it works! Of course it slows the game down but in one respect there is more spontaneity in the game whilst waiting for the decision to be made.

  • Comment posted by Hurley Hawk, at 10:09 18 Apr 2019

    Video reviews have been used successfully in rugby and cricket for years -it’s strange why it’s taken so long to bring it to football.

    VAR does add drama -but most importantly it brings justice

  • Comment posted by Gezzer, at 10:11 18 Apr 2019

    If VAR had been used in all competitions, MCFC wouldn't be in the FA cup or League Cup winners. They had incorrect decisions go their way, swings and roundabouts. Hopefully like last night, VAR will ensure the right decisions are made.

  • Comment posted by King Rooney, at 10:07 18 Apr 2019

    Last night was proof that VAR is needed and essential in football. Even added to the drama last night which is something i didn't think it could do so the signs are good

  • Comment posted by West Country White, at 10:05 18 Apr 2019

    For offside, it can make the right decision (Mané looked off for all the world, but wasn't), but handball still a total mystery. But the drama of last night was clearly accentuated by VAR. One of the great European games and the right decisions were made. So has to be a thumbs up.

  • Comment posted by TheDarkKnight, at 10:10 18 Apr 2019

    Sometimes oil money just can’t buy you everything.

  • Comment posted by Mark, at 10:05 18 Apr 2019

    Irreverent of your thoughts on VAR. The current FIFA rules define handball as 'Deliberate, where your hands are in an unnatural position' when people start commenting about skin movement, that's desperation in itself. It was reviewed. It grazed his arm on the way to his hip. Goal. Aguero 40cm offside coming back in to play. No Goal. It's pretty simple really. Blues should have scored in 1st leg.

  • Comment posted by LFC, at 09:57 18 Apr 2019

    If VAR was active in Swansea vs Man city, City would never been in FA Cup semi never mind the final. Guardiola and his players knows it.

  • Comment posted by Colin, at 11:27 18 Apr 2019

    As a city fan I am happy that justice was done and spurs go through as they should Better team.
    If we win a game I want it to be on merit and not an offside goal that would have stood with no VAR.
    At the age of 54 I am from the "typical city" stable. I expect the unexpected and that will never leave me just because we came in to money.
    Good luck to spurs on reaching the semi final.

  • Comment posted by The Chosen Cookie, at 10:35 18 Apr 2019

    To be honest VAR came to the forefront last night and got it spot on.

    There was no handball for the goal, his hand was in the shape of his body, didn't change the direction of the ball and didn't provide the last touch. Was silly it was even checked to be fair.

    Aguero was clearly offside, the ball clearly came off of Bernado Silva.

    Nice to see the decision go the right way!

  • Comment posted by OA, at 09:57 18 Apr 2019

    VAR is great for football, I have seen matches ruined this season in the EPL, have seen WORLD cups ruined e.g Japan Korea 2002, VAR more often than not ensures fairness.

    As an Arsenal fan, I am gutted but I believe football wins so welcome VAR!!!

  • Comment posted by Jeb, at 10:03 18 Apr 2019

    "Man City v Tottenham: How does that incredible finish make you feel about VAR?"

    It makes me feel that justice was done. It's about time the likes of City stopped getting the rub of the green. Well done Spurs!

  • Comment posted by MarkyMark, at 10:35 18 Apr 2019

    When the ref gets a decision wrong, fans moan. When VAR helps get it right, fans moan. There's no pleasing football fans!

  • Comment posted by JCB, at 10:03 18 Apr 2019

    As a kind of neutral watching on Telly, the drama produced by VAR was sensational. You have to have the right decision, too much is at stake for this notion that things even themselves out over the season. Two Wrongs never make a right, and all I want is the right decision. Tech has transformed other sports, such as tennis and cricket, and we need to start somewhere with VAR. It will improve.

  • Comment posted by SaladTossa, at 09:53 18 Apr 2019

    Really surprised at how well VAR has been introduced, I was definitely cautious before the Russia WC.

    One thing I would say though is it's starting with a very harsh approach, VAR is to prevent clear and obvious errors yet we spent time reviewing a small sniff at handball for Spurs.

    As a Watford Fan at the FA Cup semi, we had no idea on reviews in the stands. Work to be done but encouraging

  • Comment posted by will kerr, at 11:29 18 Apr 2019

    City fan here, absolutely gutted, but don’t feel cheated. Heart breaking way to get knocked out, but the VAR decisions were fair.