Liverpool Manager Arne Slot criticizes VAR following several incidents during the match against Liverpool and the FA are planning to take serious action against the officials of the game.
Anfield was a cauldron of emotion and controversy as Liverpool manager Arne Slot erupted in anger following his team’s 2-1 loss to Manchester United — a match overshadowed by two major refereeing decisions that have reignited debates over VAR’s reliability in English football.
Usually calm and measured, Slot couldn’t contain his fury after the game, branding the officiating “a disgrace” and accusing officials of compromising the sport’s integrity. His fiery post-match comments have since gone viral, sparking outrage among fans and calls for reform.
“The corruption level just keeps increasing,” Slot fumed in his interview. “How can we trust VAR when they keep making the wrong calls? The match didn’t go as it was supposed to.”
The Dutchman’s frustration was rooted in two moments that turned the tide against his side. First, in the 68th minute, Amad Diallo appeared to control the ball with his arm before assisting Marcus Rashford’s winning goal. Despite furious protests from Liverpool players, VAR quickly reviewed the incident and ruled there was no handball — a decision that left both fans and pundits baffled. Replays showed clear contact with Amad’s arm, which under current Premier League rules should have resulted in the goal being disallowed. Slot, visibly furious, was caught shouting “check it properly!” from the sidelines as the decision was confirmed.
Earlier in the match, Alexis Mac Allister suffered a blow to the head after a dangerous aerial challenge but play was inexplicably allowed to continue. Despite visible signs of disorientation and bleeding, the Argentine was not given an immediate medical review. Slot later revealed that Mac Allister felt dizzy in the dressing room, questioning how such an incident could go unreviewed. “We are talking about player safety,” he said. “If VAR can’t intervene in that situation, then what’s the point of having it?”
Following the uproar, the FA and PGMOL confirmed they would open an internal investigation into the match. In a statement, the FA said it would “assess the officiating decisions” and conduct a “full review” in line with referee performance protocols. This comes as VAR faces mounting criticism across the league, with other managers like Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta having previously demanded major changes to the system.
Fans, meanwhile, flooded social media with anger, sending the hashtag #VARcorruption trending within minutes. One fan wrote, “You can literally see Amad touch the ball with his hand. How blind can they be?” Another added, “Mac Allister was nearly knocked out and they just played on. It’s beyond a joke now.”
Even neutral viewers questioned the officiating, with many demanding the Premier League release VAR audio recordings to the public — a move that has long been resisted by officials.
Slot’s outburst isn’t entirely new. Since taking charge of Liverpool, he has voiced concerns about questionable officiating, but never with such intensity. Club insiders revealed he was furious in the dressing room, telling players the game was “decided by people in a room, not on the pitch.” Liverpool are now reportedly preparing a formal complaint to the FA demanding explanations for both controversial calls.
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, on the other hand, refused to be drawn into the debate. “I didn’t see the handball clearly,” he told reporters. “That’s why we have VAR. We trusted their judgment. We played with heart and earned the win.”
His comments did little to calm the storm, as many rival fans claimed United were “lucky” to escape with the three points.
The FA now faces immense pressure to restore credibility to the system. Pundits like Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have called for greater transparency, with Carragher insisting, “You can’t keep brushing this under the carpet. The technology isn’t the problem — it’s the people using it.”
Liverpool’s defeat to Manchester United will be remembered not just for the goals, but for the renewed distrust surrounding VAR and the officiating standards in English football. Arne Slot’s explosive reaction has once again forced the Premier League to confront an uncomfortable truth — that fans and managers are rapidly losing faith in the system meant to ensure fairness on the pitch.
