Southampton manager Russell Martin says the video assistant referee (VAR) system is a “big problem” for the Premier League if it disallows goals like Cameron Archer’s against Brighton.
Archer looked to have put the Saints ahead at the Amex Stadium on Friday, only for the goal to be disallowed when teammate Adam Armstrong was adjudged to be offside.
It took more than four minutes for the controversial decision to be made following a VAR check, with Armstrong’s level of interference in the game being questionable.
Martin was furious when his bottom-of-the-table team were denied their first Premier League away win of the season when the match finished 1-1.
“My problem is that the decision on the field has weight,” Martin told the BBC. “You either have VAR to correct the problems or you don’t, and when it comes to a goal, it’s a big problem.
“If a decision is made in the heat of the moment, you can accept it, but when you have so much time and we have to wait so long on the field and the decision is still, in my opinion, that the goalkeeper has been affected when he did not Yes, that’s a problem.
“I understand why they would give it in the heat of the moment, but that’s what VAR is for.”
The Saints defended magnificently after Brighton took the lead through Kaoru Mitoma’s first goal in the 29th minute.
Flynn Downes equalized in the 59th minute, before Archer thought he had scored the crucial winning goal when he returned Ryan Fraser’s cross from the left.
While the draw moved Brighton into second place, the Saints, who have just one win this season, have five points from 13 league games and are four from safety.
