Ex-Premier League referee: Southampton victims of major injustice as James Ward-Prowse footage analysed
Keith Hackett has claimed the decision to disallow James Ward-Prowse's second-half opener for Southampton against Aston Villa was "very harsh".
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee suggested VAR official Simon Hooper was "searching for reasons" not to give the goal.
As seen in footage from the Sky Sports Premier League YouTube channel (21 January), Ward-Prowse thought he had given Southampton the lead with a deflected effort in the second half at St Mary's Stadium.
However, VAR official Hooper spotted an infringement and sent match official Michael Salisbury to the pitchside monitor.
Replays showed that Saints midfielder Mohamed Elyounoussi made contact with Villa star Jacob Ramsey in the build-up, sending him to the floor.
The south coast club went on to lose 1-0 after Ollie Watkins' header.
Speaking post-match (as per Football Daily), Southampton boss Nathan Jones slammed the "soft" decision and criticised Salisbury's performance.
Jones claimed the referee "couldn't wait to give free-kicks" and "blew up at every opportunity".
Hackett told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “It seemed harsh, for sure.
“It’s important that VAR doesn’t go searching for reasons to chalk a goal off.
“I didn’t see the players really screaming before the ball went in the net. It was only afterwards.
“It seemed very harsh. If VAR is raising the bar, then that is a decision where they shouldn’t have come in.
“I don’t think he needed to come in. The referee had a good view of the coming together.”