Sheff Utd 3 Tottenham 1: VAR controversially rules out Kane goal leaving Spurs fuming as Berge and Mousset seal win
JOSE MOURINHO saw Spurs’ Euro hopes blunted by Blades – but it was VAR Michael Oliver who really drove him around the twist.
Sander Berge fired United into a 31st minute lead with a fine finish from Chris Basham’s pull-back.
It was the Norweigan’s first goal for the club since his record £22million switch from Genk in January.
Spurs thought they had equalised 83 seconds later when Harry Kane slotted home.
But it was chalked off after video ref Oliver spotted Lucas Moura had handled the ball as he was bundled to the floor in the build-up – even though the Brazilian had clearly been fouled.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp branded it “one of the worst decisions I have ever seen.”
As Tottenham players protested, a furious Mourinho was given an official warning by fourth official Peter Banks after his anger threatened to boil over.
Spurs will also feel Blades should have had a man sent off in the 40th when Son Heung-min was caught in the face by an elbow from Oliver Norwood, who had just been booked for a foul on Moura.
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But ref Kavanagh, despite awarding the visitors free kick, decided not to dismiss Norwood with a second yellow.
Mourinho’s misery was compounded when Lys Mousset slotted home United’s second from Enda Stevens’ cross in the 69th minute.
Oli McBurnie then made it 3-0 with an emphatic close-range finish six minutes from time before Kane pulled one back for Spurs in stoppage time.
Mark Halsey on Tottenham disallowed goal
VAR official Michael Oliver was correct to rule out Harry Kane’s strike for handball against Lucas Moura by the letter of the law.
But I don’t think we should be chalking off goals like this.
Yes, people can point to the technology being consistent in terms of Tottenham’s ‘equaliser’ at Sheffield United was very similar to the goal Declan Rice of West Ham also had ruled out at Bramall Lane earlier this season.
But what was Spurs forward Moura supposed to do when John Egan smashed the ball against his arm from close range in the build-up toKane’s leveller?
As a result, I have every sympathy with Jose Mourinho and Spurs and no doubt they will be frustrated with this decision.
The position of where the ball hit Moura on the arm is also a grey area but that should be cleared up when the handball law changes next season which will rule the bottom of the armpit as the cut-off point.
Tottenham fans may also ask why Moura did not receive a free-kick from referee Chris Kavanagh because he was fouled? But I’m afraid VAR cannot go back and award a free-kick in those circumstances and that’s an issue for the IFAB lawmakers.