World · Singapore Bureau
Maresca defends VAR officials after City's derby VAR benefit
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has defended VAR officials following a controversial decision that favoured his side against Manchester United. Drawing on his previous experience as City's assistant manager, Maresca noted similar incidents have gone against the club in the past.
LSN Singapore ·
Maresca declined to criticise the Video Assistant Referee system after Manchester City benefited from an officiating error during their derby clash with United, instead choosing to contextualise the incident within broader patterns of VAR decision-making.
The Italian tactician pointed to his time as assistant manager at City during the 2022-23 season, when he witnessed the club lose a comparable match due to a similar VAR-related incident. His comments suggest that inconsistencies in VAR rulings are systemic rather than targeted against any particular team.
The remarks come amid ongoing debate about the consistency and reliability of VAR implementations across major football competitions. Maresca's measured response reflects an acknowledgement that while the technology can benefit teams, it has also disadvantaged Manchester City on previous occasions.
VAR has remained a contentious topic in English football, with managers and fans frequently questioning decisions made through the system. Maresca's perspective, drawing on firsthand experience from multiple vantage points within elite clubs, adds nuance to discussions about the technology's application and fairness across different fixtures.