“This Isn’t What Technology Was Meant For” — Postecoglou Lashes Out at VAR Delay

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has delivered a scathing assessment of the current use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, following a frustrating five-minute delay that saw a Spurs goal disallowed in their 3-1 Premier League victory over Southampton on Sunday.

In the 33rd minute at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, teenage midfielder Lucas Bergvall thought he had doubled the home side’s lead with a composed finish from a set piece. However, after an astonishing four minutes and fifty seconds of VAR scrutiny, the goal was chalked off for a marginal offside.

The decision sparked unrest among fans, who loudly booed as the process dragged on. Meanwhile, a visibly irritated Postecoglou mimicked flipping a coin and playing rock-paper-scissors on the sideline — an animated protest against what he later described as an overcomplicated and flawed system.

“If you told me a few years ago that we would be spending five minutes during a football game just standing around, I would never have believed you,” the 59-year-old Australian said in his post-match press conference.

“It’s Gone Too Far” — Postecoglou on the State of VAR

Postecoglou emphasized that while technology was introduced to assist decision-making, it has veered too far from its original purpose.

“They draw those lines — is anyone really convinced by those?” he asked. “This isn’t a dig at anyone individually, but I don’t think that’s what this technology was brought in for.”

The Spurs boss highlighted that such delays break the rhythm of the match and create more confusion than clarity — particularly when decisions hinge on fractional margins that remain debatable even after prolonged analysis.

“We used to trust the assistant referees to make those calls, and we lived with it. Now we wait five minutes, only for something that still, in my view, is inconclusive.”

Calls for Instant Decision-Making

Postecoglou also raised concerns over the idea of “microscopic adjudication” of offside calls and questioned whether the game’s integrity is being served by such fine margins.

“Offside wasn’t meant to be judged with a microscope,” he stated. “We need decisions to be made quicker. Football isn’t meant to be stopped for five minutes over something that should be black and white.”

In a bit of hope for smoother officiating ahead, the Premier League announced that semi-automated offside technology — already tested successfully in the FA Cup — will be introduced later this month. The system promises faster and more accurate decisions using advanced tracking software.

Still, Postecoglou remains skeptical of the current direction.

“I just can’t believe this is what we brought VAR in for. The game is losing its flow. This needs to be addressed, and quickly.”

Tottenham’s win keeps them firmly in the hunt for European qualification, but their manager’s comments have added fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding VAR’s role in the modern game. With semi-automated tech on the horizon, all eyes will be on whether it brings the improvement many — like Postecoglou — are demanding.