Fans slam ‘incompetent’ VAR after Southampton’s equaliser ruled out

Fans are livid

They went behind in the second minute as Pablo Sarabia’s strike put Wolverhampton Wanderers ahead.

However, Russell Martin’s side responded well and thought they had found an equaliser ten minutes later through Ryan Manning but VAR intervened and the goal was chalked off.

It was like pinball in the box and it fell nicely to Manning who smashed it into the top corner, but there were players down in the box in front of him.

The Premier League Match Centre issued a tweet which read: “Manning’s goal was awarded on-field. The VAR deemed that there was a foul by Fernandes on Semedo in the build-up and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned the original decision and play restarted with a Wolves free-kick.”

Fans fumed over the decision as one said: “A VAR decision like that makes no sense unless somebody is bent or totally incompetent. Speechless.”

#WOLSOU – 12’ VAR OVERTURN

Manning’s goal was awarded on-field. The VAR deemed that there was a foul by Fernandes on Semedo in the build-up and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned the original decision and play restarted with a Wolves free-kick.

— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) November 9, 2024

Another agreed: “If I was Southampton I would be absolutely fuming at that goal being ruled out…was just a coming together in my eyes.”

While a third slammed the decision as ‘outrageous’ and a fourth said: "How on earth was that given as a foul? Different week, same appalling officiating against saints."

However, former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha agreed with the decision, telling Final Score: “Nelson Semendo is trying to shield it and Fernandes has come through the back of him. I can see why they've given it as a free-kick. It was quite a heavy collision. It was a foul from Fernandes. It is the right decision.

The Saints had a flurry of chances in the latter stages of the first half but they could not find an equaliser.