epa07270062 Tottenham Hotspur Harry Kane is fouled in the penalty box during the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea at Wembley stadium in London, Britain, 08 January 2019. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications
epa07270062 Tottenham Hotspur Harry Kane is fouled in the penalty box during the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea at Wembley stadium in London, BritainShow more

Mauricio Pochettino 'unhappy' to beat Chelsea with VAR penalty



Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino said he was "unhappy" to see his side beat Chelsea 1-0 in the first leg of their English League Cup semi-final via a disputed penalty awarded by VAR.

Harry Kane scored the only goal of the all-London tie at Wembley after 26 minutes with a spot kick given when referee Michael Oliver called on video technology.

Chelsea were convinced Kane had been offside before racing into the box, where he was brought down by Kepa Arrizabalaga as the Spanish goalkeeper came hurtling off his line.

It took more than 90 seconds for VAR to confirm Kane had indeed been onside before match referee Oliver awarded a penalty.

"I don't like the VAR," Pochettino told Sky Sports. "Today we get the benefit of it but after watching the World Cup and another league like La Liga I see that nobody is happy from day one that they started to use it."

"To get the benefit is nice but I am unhappy to win the game like this," the Argentine added.

"I prefer the technology but in a different way. Being clear, I am pro technology because you cannot stop evolution but we are waiting so long, it is not clear what are the rules.

"We all have to agree, the players, the coaching staff, I watch every week La Liga and nobody is happy, the big clubs and the small clubs.

"That is a good example for us. We have six months to improve the system and there is a lot of work to do."

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Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Maurizio insisted a Blues video showed Kane in an offside position and also questioned why VAR was now being used in League Cup ties but not in the Premier League.

"A few minutes ago I watched the video from our camera. It was offside. Our camera was in line with Harry Kane," Sarri said.

"Offside with the head, the knee. Offside. It was really important the linesman carried on running, he had a big impact on our defenders.

"I don't think English referees are able to use the system. If you are not sure with the system, you have to follow the ball and at the end of the action decide.

"I think they [football officials] have to study the system. It's very strange in the Premier League there isn't VAR and in the Carabao Cup there is the system. It's very strange for us, the players and referees."

Kane, however, had no such qualms over the penalty award.

"I played to the whistle and nicked it round the keeper, it was a clear penalty. VAR is there for a reason and they got it right," said the England forward.

Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association