Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper pointed to an “interesting” first experience of VAR in his team’s FA Cup defeat to Liverpool.
The Reds pushed their Premier League opponents all the way in a pulsating quarter-final at the City Ground. Unable to make the most of a number of positive moments, they lost out to a Diogo Jota goal in the 78th minute.
But a VAR check was needed for the winner, over what looked to be a very tight offside call. And the video assistant was called into action again soon after, when Ryan Yates went down in the box under the challenge of Alisson Becker - with no penalty given.
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“I haven’t seen them back. I think it would have been interesting if they were at the other end,” said Cooper. “It’s the first time I’ve experienced VAR and the first time we’ve had it here. I guess you have to trust the process of what it is. It would definitely have been interesting if they were down the other end.
“It was tight for the goal, because obviously it went to the VAR with offside. Some of the questions I was getting asked when doing the TV interviews suggested it might have been an interesting one. That’s what I’m saying, if it had been down the other end…
“With the penalty shout, my instinct was, because of what the moment was and also, the guys who know Forest know Yatesy is one of the most honest players…
“He's too honest, to be honest. That was the feeling, that there was no way he would go down. Plus you're thinking, 'go round him and score'.
"I haven't seen it back. But, like I said, if it had been down the other end, in front of their supporters, then it would have been really, really interesting.
"It shouldn't have made a difference that he got up, because you see it back on the camera and they can make a decision from there. But that's Yatesy, he's as honest as they come.
"It's just one of those things. But I don't want to talk about VAR too much, it was more a case of what could have been in the game. On the whole I thought we handled them really well, we just couldn't make the most of the moments we created.”
