‘Southampton burgled in broad daylight!’: Social media erupts after Kyle Walker red and penalty against Man City are BOTH overturned by VAR – as Gary Lineker insists the ‘extraordinary turnaround’ was ‘bizarre’
Manchester City were held to a goal-less draw by Southampton but it could have been a lot worse for the champions.
A VAR check spared Kyle Walker‘s blushes when it overturned a penalty in the Saints’ favour and a red card decision.
The defender saw red when he tripped Southampton’s Adam Armstrong in the box in the second half, handing Ralph Hassenhuttl’s side a brilliant chance to take the lead.
Social media has erupted after Man City escaped a red card and penalty against Southampton
Kyle Walker was shown a red card and the Saints were awarded a penalty in the second half
But the England international remained on the pitch remonstrating with Jon Moss over the decision before the referee took a look at the incident on the pitchside monitor and overturned it.
Social media erupted as pundits and fans alike weighed in on the surprising turnaround with Gary Lineker spearheading the criticism, branding it ‘bizarre’.
‘Extraordinary turnaround by VAR. Walker gives away a penalty and gets a red card,’ the presenter tweeted.
‘With double jeopardy the red was an error, but to turn over the decision of a penalty is bizarre. You could argue whether it was a penalty, but having given it, it was definitely not a glaring error.’
However, referee Jon Moss – with the assistance of VAR – overturned both key decisions
Match of the Day host Gary Lineker labelled the incident ‘bizarre’ as football fans weighed in
Meanwhile others claimed they had not ‘seen a penalty that is more deserved of being a penalty’ leading to questions over the objective of VAR.
They took to Twitter to slam the incident as ‘disgraceful’, claiming VAR was on ‘vacation’ and that the Saints were ‘burgled in broad daylight’.
‘I have not seen a penalty that is more deserved of being a penalty than that Kyle Walker foul just now… what in the world is the point in VAR if that is concluded not a foul and a red card,’ slammed one.
One fan took to social media to criticise VAR and claim the incident was a ‘stonewall penalty’
But others disagreed, claiming VAR had made the right decision as Armstrong was ‘already on his way to the ground’ when Walker charged at him.
One fan even claimed the penalty decision would have been ‘atrocious’ if it had stood.
‘Right decision by the VAR in the #MCISOU game. That wasn’t a foul by Kyle Walker,’ they wrote.
‘The Saints attacker was already on his way to the ground when Waker charged him.’
Supporters were divided over Moss’s decision as City were held to a draw on Saturday
More drama, though less controversial, came late in the second half when Raheem Sterling thought he had scored a last-gasp winner in stoppage time only for it to be disallowed for offside.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, both Arsenal and Burnley also had a spot-kicks overturned in their clash. But Martin Odegaard whipped in an excellent free kick in the first half to score the only and winning goal of the game.
Pep Guardiola’s shot-shy side only had one on target with their goal-less draw leaving them in third as title rivals Liverpool topped the table after a convincing 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
