Man City news: Pundit lambasts chiefs as BT’s Riyad Mahrez footage analysed
Frank McAvennie has demanded a change to the handball rules after Riyad Mahrez was penalised for a handball when Man City faced FC Copenhagen on Tuesday (11 October).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former West Ham striker slammed VAR officials for not using the technology in the right way.
As shown on BT Sport (11 October), Rodri found the back of the net for the Cityzens in the first half of the Champions League clash.
However, referee Artur Manuel Soares Dias was told to consult the pitch-side monitor by the VAR official for a potential handball by Mahrez in the build-up.
The goal was ruled out and City failed to find the back of the net again as the game finished 0-0.
When asked if it is time to alter the handball rules, McAvennie told Football Insider: “I think so.
“VAR was brought in to help out the referee, not to dictate the game. Everyone knows on the pitch if it was meant. You can see by the other players. It is not a handball. Players have the best reaction.
“Some of the things that VAR does, it is not supposed to be like that. It is supposed to improve the game. That is not football, it has turned in to American football. It is really terrible.
“I think VAR is a good thing but I think it is the people that are using it that are at fault.
“It used to be handball was intentional. VAR are getting involved in too much now. I have seen too many recently.
“I am not a fan of VAR. I can understand it but it needs to be used properly. In these situations where it tickles somebody’s hand, that is not a handball.”
In other news, a pundit can’t believe Pep Guardiola could walk away from Man City – ‘everyone loves him’.