Brendan Rodgers has questioned John Beaton’s decision to overrule his own on-field decision after VAR intervention.
Beaton initially booked Fabio Silva for diving, but after a VAR review, awarded a penalty to Rangers with Rodgers unsure why Beaton changed his initial decision.
Rodgers said: [Sky Sports], “The penalty changes the momentum of the game slightly for us in the second half. I thought it was a good decision on the pitch, and I think when you watch it back on the replays, it’s really good recovery defending by Alistair Johnston.
“He’s (Johnston’s) going one way, and you can see he gets a nick on the ball, plays it away, and obviously the player then obviously has gone down and obviously looking to simulate the penalty.
“So I thought that sort of gave them (Rangers) a little lift in the game, having us been much the better team. Then we’re unlucky with the deflection.”
Rodgers is spot on to discuss Silva’s clear dive and Beaton’s unwillingness to stick with his initial decision, ultimately giving in to the pressure of the home crowd and VAR.
Highlighting a clear problem, very rarely do officials stick to what they initially award after VAR is involved, indicating that the technology leads to referees doubting themselves and the decisions they do make.
With Johnston very clearly making minimal, if any, contact, VAR changed the whole context of the dive by freeze-framing to emphasise contact.
