VAR Drama: Was Arne Slot Right About City Red Card?
The Premier League title race just took a controversial turn that will be discussed for weeks. Following Liverpool’s narrow defeat against Manchester City, Arne Slot did not hide his frustration regarding a pivotal officiating decision. The Dutch manager was adamant that a City player should have seen red for a challenge that went unpunished by VAR. This moment has sparked a fierce debate across the footballing world about consistency and the role of technology in high-stakes matches.
The Incident That Fueled Slot’s Fury
The controversy centered on a heavy challenge midway through the second half when the game was still on a knife-edge. Replays showed studs making contact with the ankle, a move that often triggers an automatic dismissal in the modern game. However, the referee on the pitch opted for a yellow card, and the VAR team decided not to intervene. Arne Slot argued that the force and height of the tackle met the criteria for serious foul play. Meanwhile, Manchester City supporters felt the contact was accidental and lacked the malice required for a sending-off.
Is the Liverpool manager justified in his anger? On one hand, the safety of the players is paramount and similar incidents earlier this season have resulted in red cards. If the officials want to protect players, they must apply the rules with total uniformity across all fixtures. On the other side, VAR is designed only to correct clear and obvious errors, which adds a layer of subjectivity. If the lead official felt the intensity was low, the video assistant is often hesitant to overturn the initial call.
Consequences for the Title Race
The fallout from this decision extends far beyond a single matchday in February. This loss leaves Liverpool trailing in the standings at a crucial juncture of the 2025/26 campaign. A red card would have forced City to play with ten men for over thirty minutes, drastically changing the tactical landscape. As a result, the psychological momentum has shifted toward the blue side of Manchester, leaving the Reds to rue what might have been. The pressure on PGMOL to provide clarity on these interpretations is now reaching a breaking point.
Looking ahead, the fallout from this match will likely influence how referees handle high-profile clashes in the coming weeks. Managers are increasingly vocal about the lack of transparency in the decision-making process at Stockley Park. However, Liverpool must find a way to channel this perceived injustice into their upcoming performances to stay in the hunt. Whether Slot is right or wrong, the shadow of this ‘no red card’ decision will loom large over the final sprint for the trophy.
