By Frank McAvennie

15th Sep, 2023 | 11:39am

VAR officials not punished enough after key Man City development - pundit

The VAR officials responsible for not disallowing an offside goal for Man City against Fulham are not being punished enough.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former West Ham striker Frank McAvennie said banning officials for the following fixture is not enough to deter them from making mistakes.

As relayed by the Daily Mail (12 September), the two VAR officials who failed to disallow City’s goal against Fulham for an offside will not be in action at Stockley Park this weekend.

Tony Harrington and assistant VAR official Adam Nunn have been blamed for not disallowing Nathan Ake’s goal despite Manuel Akanji standing in an offside position.

Although City went on to win the game 5-1, Ake’s goal broke the deadlock at 1-1 and may have spurred on Pep Guardiola’s side in the second half.

When asked if the officials responsible have been given a suitable punishment, McAvennie told Football Insider: “It is nowhere near enough.

“I do not like VAR and I have not met a footballer or ex-footballer who does.

“It used to be that the referee made a mistake and you accepted it but VAR is supposed to be here to cut that out. But now they have got two guys sitting there who are also getting it wrong.

“It is alright one referee getting it wrong but now there is someone sitting in a room somewhere who is supposed to stop it. That is what he is there to do how can he get it wrong after seeing it so many times?

“Until they get ex-players in we are still going to be in this situation.“

In other news, Man City make new ‘mega-money’ Grealish payment.