“Clear Handball”, “Such A Joke” – These Spurs Fans Fuming With VAR

Tottenham were denied what looked to be a strong penalty shout for handball in the opening minutes of today’s trip to Watford.

MORE: Live Blog vs. Watford – All The In-Game Reaction and Replays

The ball bounced off Lucas Moura and onto the outstretched arm of Craig Catchcart, which ‘made his body unnaturally bigger’, as per FA laws.

However referee Michael Oliver did not point to the spot, and that was fair enough as his line of sight was blocked by a congested penalty area.

But VAR has no excuse, and yet the officials at Stockley Park passed over it so swiftly that there was not even a stoppage in play at Vicarage Road.

These Spurs fans on Twitter are sick of the inconsistency.

Shall we go to VAR?

Checking team – NOT Liverpool….

NO

— He’s A Yiddo (@_TTID) January 18, 2020

That’s clearly a handball based on the new VAR rules. This game already blows.

— #TangGang Hype Account (@cartilagefree) January 18, 2020

Whether the ref sees the handball or not is irrelevant, that’s the point of VAR ffs!! His arm is outside the shadow of the body, their rules, it’s a penalty

— ✊✊Hoggy ✊✊ (@TheHoggy) January 18, 2020

#VAR fails again not awarding Spurs a clear penalty for handball in the box #WATTOT

— Fish (@Bill_63) January 18, 2020

How has that handball not gone to VAR? Basically slapped the ball with his hand! #THFC #COYS

— Graham O’Brien (@GrahamScutzy) January 18, 2020

That’s a penalty all day that handball, such a joke VAR

— Leon (@LJWassy) January 18, 2020

How has VAR not looked at that handball #WATTOT

— YUS (@yusTHFC) January 18, 2020

We did get the benefit of a handball call from VAR in September’s reverse fixture against Watford, in the build-up to Dele Alli’s equalising goal.

Some go for you, some go against you, but that is part of the problem. Decisions are no more consistent than they were before the technology.