‘No point in having it’ - Ryan Fraser rants about VAR after Newcastle United controversy

Ryan Fraser is fed up with VAR after he was denied an obvious penalty in Newcastle United’s defeat to Manchester City.

The Scotland international was wiped out by visiting goalkeeper Ederson on the half-hour mark when United trailed 2-0 after goals from Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo.

Referee Martin Atkinson waved play on, while VAR official Craig Pawson refused to intervene from Stockley Park.

It was a decision that did not just baffle Eddie Howe & Co, but the wider footballing world as well, at least if social media is anything to go by.

Howe’s side were robbed of the chance of reducing the deficit to one as Pep Guardiola’s side went on to win the game 4-0.

Fraser was left wondering, ‘what is the point in VAR?’

Ryan Fraser’s VAR rant in full

“It’s a pen, simple as that. Even if the ball was getting away, he’s taken me out.” Fraser told NUFCTV.

“It’s just like anything else, If I volley someone in the middle of the pitch, is that not a free-kick?

“I don’t really get it. Even the Liverpool one at 2-1 down... the (Vladimir) Coufal moment for West Ham against Arsenal, if they’re getting a pen for that then they’ve got to give me mine.

“If they don’t give that then I’m all for it, don’t give mine. That’s two pens now I feel I should have had.

“Everyone has their own opinions but the referees need to be more accountable.

“It’s just one decision one week and you’re thinking ‘how’s that a pen’ and it happens the next week and it’s not a pen - no one gets it. Players don't get it, managers don’t get it.”

There’s no consistency. If no VAR is there, you take it.

“Referees make mistakes but that is what VAR is there for to not make mistakes, so there’s no point in having it.

“It takes so long for everything to happen, there’s no point in having it I feel. It ruins the game.”

Referee decisions continue to go against Newcastle

For the third time in a week, Howe has understandably felt aggrieved.

At Leicester City, the United head coach Eddie Howe thought James Maddison had dived under a challenge from Jamaal Lascelles.

Days later at Anfield, Isaac Hayden went down with a head injury but Mike Dean played on. Liverpool, of course, equalised through Diogo Jota.

The other decision on Merseyside Fraser was referring to was a tackle from Trent Alexander-Arnold midway through the second-half.