Postecoglou: ‘People in this country are so easily letting the game change so much so quickly’ | OneFootball

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has spoken on his frustrations at the lack of consistency in officiating after his side beat Liverpool 1-0.

Spurs ended Liverpool’s 24 match unbeaten run thanks to a late goal from Lucas Bergvall, but there were some queries over whether the 18-year-old Swede should have even been on the pitch.

Bergvall avoided a second yellow card after stopping a Liverpool counterattack before moments after firing home the winner to send Postecoglou’s men to Anfield with the advantage in the tie.

When asked whether it has been a lottery for decision makers, Postecoglou was frank with his response, voicing his dissatisfaction at the inconsistency in the officiating of matches:

“I spoke about it after the game last time, I think my comments were mis-interpreted,” Postecoglou said. “I didn’t criticise the referee or the decision. I didn’t think the decision was right about the handball.

“But I said, it’s very hard at the moment, it’s very confusing, to understand certain elements of the game. Now we’ve been told consistently in the last few weeks, because I’ve been screaming about it from the sidelines, because a lot of teams have got away with a lot of fouls with us, without bookings, because the referee plays advantage.

“We’ve been told consistently that if we play advantage, as long as it’s not a cynical foul, then the player does not get cautioned. So that’s been relayed to us on a weekly basis. Because we feel like that’s been happening. That’s one of the things I was bemoaning last weekend.

“There’s certain players who were repeatedly fouling, we were getting advantage, but no bookings. That’s what I’m talking about.

“I’m really surprised at how, what’s the word I’m looking for, how people in this country are so easily letting the game change so much so quickly. It’s changed more since VAR has come in since I’ve been involved than in the past 50 years.

“We never used to debate offsides, we never used to debate handballs, we never used to debate holding in the box, we never used to debate so many things, and it seems like…

“I mean, did everyone really love the announcement today? Did that give you a real buzz about, you know, I mean, seriously, but now I’m, and again, look, I understand, my understanding of it is, this is what the people want. That’s what I keep getting told.

“I understand that and I understand that, you know, we’re not going to….VAR is going to be there, technology’s gonna be a part of life, but it’s like my wife and our kids. We know technology but she limits screen time. Why? You know, slow things down, I think.”