Manchester United's interim manager Darren Fletcher has launched a scathing critique of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) officials following two contentious incidents in his side's 2-2 Premier League draw with Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday.
Controversial Decisions Overshadow Turf Moor Clash
The match was heavily influenced by two key moments involving Manchester City defender Kyle Walker. The first saw a first-half goal from United's Lisandro Martinez chalked off after referee Stuart Attwell deemed he had fouled Walker at a corner. Fletcher branded that decision "ridiculous", insisting there was minimal contact.
The second, and for Fletcher more egregious, incident occurred when Walker appeared to stamp on the leg of United's young full-back Patrick Dorgu as he lay on the ground partially covering the ball. Referee Attwell allowed play to continue, and the VAR team at Stockley Park opted not to advise an on-field review.
Fletcher's Frustration with Inconsistent VAR Use
When questioned after the match, Fletcher drew a direct comparison between the two events, highlighting a perceived inconsistency in the application of technology. "So like Kyle Walker did when Licha [Martinez] didn't touch him? Yeah," Fletcher responded pointedly when asked if Walker was fortunate Dorgu did not exaggerate the contact.
He praised Dorgu's honesty but warned that the failure to punish such incidents encourages players to simulate. "For me personally, I think VAR should have looked at it. They looked at the goal disallowed, which was ridiculous, so they should have been looking at that for me," Fletcher stated.
"You're just going to encourage players making massive dramas out of things and being theatrical, which is what we don't want in the game," he added, while clarifying he would never instruct his own players to behave in such a manner.
Broader Concerns for the Premier League
Fletcher's complaints echo a wider frustration with officiating standards this season. The issue of player conduct and referee interpretation resurfaced just 24 hours later during Arsenal's clash with Liverpool, where Gabriel Martinelli was criticised for manhandling Conor Bradley on the touchline.
The United caretaker boss emphasised the tangible impact of these decisions, noting that "them two situations probably were massive influences on the game the other night, so it shows you how influential it can be." His comments underscore a growing concern among managers about the clarity and consistency of VAR interventions in the Premier League.
