Richard Keys says VAR ‘is a waste of time’ after Harry Maguire avoids red card

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire was fortunate to avoid being sent off against Fulham – and Richard Keys has slammed VAR after they failed to intervene during said match

Richard Keys has torn into VAR after Harry Maguire escaped a red card on Saturday afternoon (

Image: beINSPORTS)

Richard Keys has torn into VAR, branding it a “waste of time” after Harry Maguire escaped punishment for a poor tackle in Manchester United’s match with Fulham – and then went on to score.

The England defender went in late and over the top during a duel with Sasa Lukic in the latter stages of the first half at Old Trafford, leaving the Fulham man in a heap. Maguire was only shown a yellow card by referee Michael Oliver following the incident.

The original decision wasn’t even checked in Stockley Park despite the lengthy delay in proceedings as Lukic received treatment on the turf. And Maguire rubbed salt into Fulham’s wounds by scoring a late goal which looked set to rescue a point. Fulham fans had the last laugh, though, when Alex Iwobi plundered a winner in the seventh minute of injury time to seal a 2-1 win at the death.

Keys was also left bemused by the decision online. The beINSPORTS anchor was quick to rubbish VAR and went on to suggest that the technology is pointless when Oliver is in charge as “no one will contradict him”.

He posted: “Harry Maguire is a very lucky boy. As clear a red as you’ll see all weekend and he was only booked by Michael Oliver. VAR is a waste of time when Oliver refs. No one will contradict him.”

In the aftermath of Maguire’s mistimed tackle, neither side were able to break the deadlock ahead of the half-time interval. United headed into the match without the in-form Rasmus Hojlund, who had scored in each of his previous six league appearances.

Talented young forward Omari Forson was drafted into the team as a result of Hojlund’s absence, with Erik ten Hag explaining before the match that the youngster had earned his opportunity to impress.

Join the debate! Do you think Maguire should have seen red? Let us know here.

Maguire was late in a clash with Fulham midfielder Sasa Lukic (

Image:

beINSPORTS)

The Dutchman told MUTV: “Because he deserves the position. Lately, he’s performing very well, over the last half year he’s worked very hard, showed his progression. And when he came on against Wolves and Newport he had some impact, for instance with the goal for Kobbie Mainoo, he had the link up and good run behind. That’s what we expect from him. He showed reliability and now he gets his chance, so he has to take his chance.

“They [the attackers] have to stay and occupy certain spaces but they can swap positions. It’s about how they’re standing in their defensive transition, so it can’t be a mess, it’s very clear who has to play where.

“But he will be fluid and we will be unpredictable sometimes. Those players have the capabilities, the dynamics, they want to find space, run abilities but also link up abilities. It’s important we have connections there but if we get it, they can be a threat and connect with each other.”

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