Mauricio Pochettino says next season too soon for VAR to be rolled out after farcical FA Cup victory

The Wembley FA Cup fifth-round replay will be remembered for its numerous VAR controversies

Son Heung-min tries to discuss a decision with referee Paul Tierney (Getty)

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino believes it is “too early” for VAR to be introduced in time for the 2018-19 Premier League season, after he watched his side beat Rochdale 6-1 in an FA Cup fifth-round replay littered with controversies.

Fernando Llorente’s hat-trick, Son Heung-min’s brace and a first senior goal for Kyle Walker-Peters helped Tottenham to thrash Rochdale, although the League One side battled bravely and went in at half-time with the score balanced precariously at 1-1.

But the match will be remembered for its numerous VAR controversies. Tottenham had two goals disallowed, while Lucas Moura’s penalty appeal was ignored despite being referred to VAR. A few minutes later Kieran Trippier was then awarded a penalty, despite referee Paul Tierney initially signalling for a free-kick.

“I think you and the fans and myself all agree, watching the game today shows that it is too early (for VAR) next season,” Pochettino said.

“The first-half was a little bit embarrassing for everyone. I am not sure that the system is going to help. I think football is about mistakes, like us — we made a mistake. The players make mistakes. And the referees can make mistakes. We understand football in this way.

“If my opinion is important, I think that there is a lot of work to do. We need to talk and to explain the system. Because today I think everybody was confused, and that is not going to help the football. We are trying to change the game that we love. And if we are going to use this system we must all be clear on it, and sure on what is going to happen.”

Pochettino however made clear that he supports the use of video technology, although he expressed reservations about the long waiting time it currently takes to arrive at a decision.

“You could kill the emotion of the sport,” he added. “It is the emotion that makes you pay for the ticket, and makes you come to the game tonight even when the conditions are so bad. Then you just say, okay, I might as well stay at home and watch the game on the TV. Because if you cannot shout when you score because you have to wait for two minutes, you cannot express yourself.

“But I am for the new technology. But we must be careful changing the game we know very well. We cannot kill the emotion.”

Rochdale manager Keith Hill meanwhile expressed his support for VAR, adding that football should follow in the footsteps of rugby and keep supporters in the picture by showing replays inside grounds.

“We have to embrace it and take a lead from rugby. It will improve but we cannot blame the referee,” he said. “And we have to come up with a way for the people inside the stadium to know. The supporters need to be involved, we need to use the scoreboard and have the ref explaining the decision that has been made.

“VAR is helping us reach correct decisions and is making the game better — so why hide them?”