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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Conor Gogarty

Furious Belgium boss Roberto Martinez dubs Wales VAR goal 'comical' and demands action from 'high up'

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez has demanded action from "high up" over the VAR decision to award Brennan Johnson's equaliser for Wales.

Wales collected their first point of the Nations League campaign with Saturday's 1-1 draw after substitute Johnson scored late in front of Cardiff City Stadium's Canton End. The Nottingham Forest winger's 86th-minute goal was initially ruled offside but referee Benoit Bastien was instructed to give it after a long pause following VAR intervention. You can read our match report here.

Former Swansea boss Martinez was left fuming after watching the replays. "It's gone a bit mad," he said. "We need an explanation from the VAR committee on how the system works. We've had two points taken away from us.

READ MORE: How 'accidental' manager Page took Wales to World Cup

"I expect an explanation from high up, from FIFA, from UEFA, ahead of the World Cup. The lines used to determine whether a player is offside don't work. It's comical.

"I don't know whether we need a 3D system. We are in a multi-million pound industry. The linesman made a good decision and was overruled by a faulty system."

Wales caretaker manager Rob Page also voiced concern over VAR after Ethan Ampadu's early strike was ruled offside following a delay. The Chelsea youngster missed out on his first international goal after Joe Rodon was deemed to have been in an offside position.

Page said: "They are taking too long to decide on the marginal ones. I'm not sure what they can do to improve it, unless they get rid of it. I'm not sure it's improved from last year."

Get your Wales World Cup 48-page souvenir special. Order your copy via the online shop here.

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