Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou backed Premier League referees and warned that their authority risks being undermined by VAR after a chaotic 4-1 defeat by Chelsea. In a remarkable London derby, Spurs were shown two red cards and five goals were chalked off as Postecoglou’s side surrendered their unbeaten start to the season.
Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie were both sent off either side of half-time. The defensive duo were both fortunate not to be dismissed earlier in the game.
Postecoglou might have had reason to complain after his side’s performance was derailed by a flurry of stoppages. However, the Australian broke rank from the likes of Mikel Arteta and Jurgen Klopp, who have complained about the standard of refereeing in recent months.
While Postecoglou appeared to take an anti-VAR stance, he said that the authority of the on-field referee is being undermined by the officials at the technology’s hub in Stockley Park. The Spurs head coach insisted that refereeing decisions must be respected in a touching response after losing heavily to Chelsea.
“I’ve said it before but some of it is self-inflicted because if we’re going to come out complaining about decisions every week, what’s going to happen is that there is going to be this forensic study of every decision that goes on,” Postecoglou told Sky Sports.
“I just think that’s the way the game’s going – I don’t like it but I’m going to be a lone voice. I keep being told that’s just the way forward. If you just look at how much standing around we had to do today… I don’t know, maybe people enjoy that kind of thing. I’d rather see us playing football.
Asked if he had any complaints about the red cards, Postecoglou responded: “No. At some point we’ve got to accept the referee’s decision. That’s how I grew up. I keep saying that and I said that last time.
“This constant erosion of referees’ authority is… well this is where the game is going to go, they’re not going to have any authority. It’s going to get diminished.
