VAR’s decision to chalk off a late Manchester City goal and send Dominik Szoboszlai off has been widely criticised, with critics claiming that VAR is killing the fun in the game.

The controversy erupted in the dying seconds of Manchester City’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield.

What happened: Goal chalked off and Dominic Szoboszlai sent off

The incident occurred in the 100th minute. With Liverpool chasing an equaliser, goalkeeper Alisson Becker had gone up for a corner, leaving the Reds’ goal completely unguarded.

City cleared the danger, and substitute Rayan Cherki launched a counter-attack, striking the ball towards the empty net from the halfway line.

As the ball rolled towards the goal, goal-scorer Dominik Szoboszlai and Erling Haaland engaged in a desperate foot race to the line. Szoboszlai tugged at Haaland’s shirt to slow him down, and the Norwegian striker retaliated by pulling back.

The ball eventually crossed the line, seemingly sealing a 3-1 win for City.

However, VAR intervened. Instead of playing the advantage and allowing the goal to stand, referee Craig Pawson was instructed to disallow the strike.

He brought play back to the initial foul and showed Szoboszlai a straight red card for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity, wiping the goal off...