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'It's ruining the game' - McCarthy weighs in on VAR debate

Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has given his opinion on VAR after the new system domin...



'It's ruining the game' - McCa...
Soccer

'It's ruining the game' - McCarthy weighs in on VAR debate

Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has given his opinion on VAR after the new system dominated the discussion around the weekend's Premier League games. 

The Republic of Ireland senior squad has assembled in Dublin today where they will train to prepare for Thursday's friendly against New Zealand and next week's crunch Euro 2020 qualifier against Denmark at the Aviva Stadium.

Ireland's David McGoldrick thought he had levelled for Sheffield Wednesday against Tottenham on Saturday evening but it wasn't to be as the goal went to VAR for a check and Lundstram was ruled offside for what looked to be one the tightest calls yet this season.

Speaking to reporters at FAI headquarters in Abbotstown today; the former Ipswich, Wolves and Sunderland boss had no time for the new system, which is particularly frustrating football fans with the lack of consistency.

"In my view, it's ruining it at the minute, it's ruining the spectacle.

"My son was at the Tottenham game on Saturday and said  'Dad, it takes four minutes and they all start booing', it was the most ridiculous decision I've ever seen.

"We used to complain about referees, now we complain about somebody we can't see, I suppose that's anonymous for them, that's ok.

"TC [Terry Connor] and I would always watch the games back the Monday morning, despite the fact we might have been having a whinge about the referees.

"Monday morning 95% I would say of decisions they'd have got right. There might be a throw-in.

"Then there'd be an odd one where there's a really blatant one and we'd be moaning then the following week there'd be a blatant one in our favour and then there wouldn't be one for two or three months, at the end of the season it probably rules itself out.

"Despite all this technology, I'm still not sure they're getting the decisions right so I prefered it before to be honest."

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