VAR branded ‘farce’ over Man City goal after wrong offside as players stopped

VAR has been branded a "farce" by viewers of Manchester City's game against West Brom for the way their second goal was awarded.

Pep Guardiola's side went into the half-time break 4-0 up at the Hawthornes through a brace by Ilkay Gundogan, a curler by Riyad Mahrez and a super strike from Joao Cancelo.

But the Portuguese full-back's goal came about after a moment of controversy and confusion.

With City on the attack after 20 minutes and 1-0 up, the ball was lofted to Bernardo Silva who appeared to be in an offside position.

The laws mean that play has to continue – but lines-woman Sian Massey-Ellis raised her flag, leading the West Brom players to stop playing.

City kept playing, though, with the midfielder finding Cancelo as he faced no pressure from the Baggies players due to believing the game had been stopped for offside.

And the defended curled an effort past Sam Johnstone, who did not attempt to save it, to double City lead's.

It was not celebrated as referee Chris Kavanagh turned to VAR – and a review judged Silva to be onside at the start of the move, allowing the goal.

With City simply starting the game again, viewers were left furious with the technology's intervention in the game.

"Man City's goal tonight may well have been correct. But another example of the farce that is VAR," one said.

"Emotion of the game gone. It has become robotic and therefore boring."

Another commented: "VAR at it again."

While Match of the Day host Gary Lineker sarcastically said: "Cancelo scores after West Brom players stopped playing after Sian Massey raised her flag, but whistle wasn’t blown.

"VAR gives the goal. They’ll be another law change tomorrow."

Aston Villa's Matty Cash – who was on the end of another VAR controversy against City this month – added: "VAR is just killing football, man."

With a fifth simply writing: "Absolutely mad."

It comes hours after the Premier League brought in new ruling on the offside law.

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