Aaron Ramsdale lead angry Southampton fans on social media after their side saw a goal controversially ruled out by VAR during their clash with Brighton.
In the second-half, with the score locked at 1-1, Southampton thought they had taken the lead through Cameron Archer after he poked home from close range.
However, in a chaotic four-and-half-minute period that ensued, referee Robert Jones initially ruled it out for offside before VAR then overruled it, deeming Archer to be onside.
Officials then checked over the footage a second time and ruled that the goal should in-fact be ruled out due to the fact teammate Adam Armstrong was offside and attempted to intervene.
However fans, both in the stadiums and watching from home, were left bemused after the VAR officials checked over the goal and ruled that it was fine – before then backtracking on the decision.
The Premier League Match Centre explained on X: ‘The referee’s call of no goal was checked and confirmed by the VAR as Armstrong was in an offside position and deemed to be impacting Verbruggen’s ability to play the ball’.
Southampton thought they’d taken the lead in their clash with Brighton on Friday evening
However, after a lengthy process, VAR eventually ruled it out for offside on Adam Armstrong
Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale quickly took to social media to vent his frustrations
However, the justification was not enough for some, including Saints goalkeeper Ramsdale who took to X shortly after to air his frustrations.
He wrote: ‘You can not be serious’ along with a ‘face-palm’ emoji.
Ramsdale would have likely been in goal for the Saints had he not suffered a broken finger which kept him out during the recent international break.
After the match, Saints manager Russell Martin explained: ‘The first half we lacked a bit of aggression. In the second half we played with more conviction in our actions. The decision late on. It was a brilliant goal. I respect how difficult the referee’s decision is but I struggle to accept it.
‘The ball goes behind Adam. If Adam’s run had moved Verbruggen’s position I’d understand it but it hasn’t. It hasn’t affected the goalkeeper at all. When they take so much time to look at it. This is a problem.
‘The interpretation is so subjective still. Now if they watch it they still make a mistake. I’m annoyed about it, I’m frustrated but I’m really happy with the performance and I’m proud of my players’.
It didn’t take long for other to join in with Ramsdale’s moaning on social media, with ESPN’s Dale Johnson writing: ‘4 minutes 27 seconds on that VAR offside assessment. Most of that was spent determining an onside position which was eventually irrelevant’.
‘GET RID OF VAR. He hasn’t affected ANYTHING there?! Ridiculous,’ another fan wrote.
Another said: ‘VAR in this country really doesn’t do themselves any favours.’
‘One of the worst VAR calls I’ve ever seen in the Brighton game. Saints have been completely robbed there. Get this s*** gone man,’ one user said.
Though Cameron Archer (pink top, bottom) was judged to have been onside, it was Adam Armstrong (pink top, middle) who was ruled to have been in an offside position
Armstrong attempted to play the ball before it eventually arrived at Archer’s feet
At full-time, managers Russell Martin (second from right) and Fabian Hurzeler (right) argued
Fans on social media were quick to join Ramsdale in questioning VAR’s decision making
‘VAR robbed Southampton of an extra 2 points tonight. In this league and for a club like Southampton, those 2 points can be the difference between relegation or staying up. The officiating in this league is an embarrassment,’ another said.
Sky Sports pundits Steve Sidwell and Izzy Christiansen were also quick to comment in the matter and agreed that it would be a ‘bitter pill to swallow’ for the Saints.
Sidwell said: ‘If you’re a Southampton fan, staff, player very disappointing. I get what they’re saying with Armstrong is making a run. If he does get any connection to that ball he will impact Verbruggen the way he goes. It does impact Verbruggen’s decision making’.
Christiansen then replied: ‘It’s an incredibly bitter pill to swallow for Southampton. I do feel for them. We’re talking fine margins. There seems to be a real hunger about the way they played’.
