Adelaide United head coach Airton Andrioli delivered a scathing assessment of VAR in the A-League Men, claiming it is \u201cdestroying\u201d football.<\/p>\n
Andrioli was speaking after Adelaide drew 1-1 with leaders Newcastle Jets, who salvaged a draw in the 94th minute on Saturday night.<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018THE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING\u2019: \u2018Big issue\u2019 rears its head again in the A-League<\/a><\/p>\n In an entertaining game between two attacking sides, there were a couple of contentious moments at McDonald Jones Stadium.<\/p>\n Leading 1-0 at the time, Adelaide thought they had doubled their advantage late in the contest but a VAR review deemed the ball had gone out of play in the build-up to Ethan Alagich find the back of the net.<\/p>\n Then, Daniel Wilmering\u00a0rescued a point for the Jets in the 94th minute amid calls for offside.<\/p>\n It prompted a passionate post-game press conference response from Andrioli.<\/p>\n JETS SOARING: $1.2m reasons to smile as Newcastle reach Asian \u2018pinnacle\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cA sense of frustration and disappointment. Such a great game of football that I\u2019m probably going to walk away with this bitter taste in mouth again that VAR is destroying our game,\u201d the Brazilian told reporters.<\/p>\n \u201cUnless they have a camera that can show me and unless we have different rules in Australia, the FIFA rules says if it\u2019s not clear and obvious and if there is no camera to show, the referee\u2019s call on the field stays. That is the rule.<\/p>\n \u201cThe lineswoman was in the best position to see. She ran to the middle, the referee ran to the middle. VAR, whatever they see in Sydney, calls the referee in and disallows the goal. They spent I don\u2019t know how long to make that decision.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry it sounds like I\u2019m whinging here but twice in a game? It\u2019s frustrating. For me, it\u2019s ruining the game of football.<\/p>\n \u201cTwice, celebrate the goal and disallowed.<\/p>\n \u201cI always say this to be consistent with my opinion, I think the referee as the official officiators do a great job on the pitch. The way we\u2019re using technology is actually hindering our game and putting our game backwards.<\/p>\n \u201cFor that reason, instead of talking about a great game of football tonight\u2026 I\u2019m here talking about this again. So, somebody has to look into that.<\/p>\n \u201cThe referee\u2019s decision should stand.\u201d<\/p>\n \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f “This is happening TOO MUCH!”<\/p>\n \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f “I don’t see how that’s really happening at this level!”<\/p>\n Big questions asked by pundits following Will Dobson’s concussion injury, the third incident in two rounds where players haven’t come off, or immediately come off.<\/p>\n Story:\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/orWJa0k6XA<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Football360.com.au (@football360au) April 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n