Troy Deeney believes that West Brom were victims of big club bias on Saturday evening as the referee took away a Baggies penalty after consulting VAR.
Conor Gallagher was felled in the United box by Bruno Fernandes early in the second half and referee David Coote gave Albion a penalty.
However, after consulting with VAR Coote overturned his decision and the Baggies were left scratching their heads as to why they no longer had a penalty.
😧 “I think there is big club bias when it comes to VAR.”
🤦♂️ “The WBA pen vs #MUFC… if it was the other way around it stands.”
😫 “You know if there’s a 50/50 it’ll be more 70/30 in a big club’s favour.”
Troy Deeney says big clubs get special treatment by VAR officials 👀 pic.twitter.com/mGikSWi8po
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) November 23, 2020
Deeney, speaking on the talkSPORT breakfast show, criticised the big club bias that clubs like Man United benefit from.
He said, “Look at the Man Utd game, it still happens. The penalty’s been changed, he’s given a penalty and went over there [to VAR], he wasn’t sure and he still took the penalty away.
“If that was Man United and the other way around, that penalty stands. You know that if there’s a 50/50, instead of it being a 50/50 it’s probably going to be more like 70/30 in their favour.”
The Baggies were left even more aggrieved after Coote gave a penalty to the home side shortly after he took West Brom’s penalty away for a harsh handball against Darnell Furlong.
ESPN journalist Dale Johnson tweeted a list of overturned VAR decisions in the Premier League this season and it shows that Manchester United have benefitted more than any other team in the league.
VAR OVERTURNS – DECISIONS FOR
Man United 5
Brighton 4
C Palace 4
Everton 3
Newcastle 3
Sheff Utd 3
Southampton 3
Aston Villa 2
Leicester 2
Tottenham 2
West Ham 2
Wolves 2
Arsenal 1
Fulham 1
Leeds 1
Liverpool 1
Man City 1
Burnley 0
Chelsea 0
WBA 0#MNUWBA https://t.co/dJB3wJShTV— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) November 21, 2020
It also shows Albion have had nothing off VAR this term as they sit with Chelsea and Burnley with no decisions overturned in their favour.
Albion really haven’t had the rub of the green this season and on Saturday evening it was taken to another level.
The performance from the away side merited a point at the very least with no one in the green and yellow of Albion turning in a bad performance.
The Baggies must take the positives from their performance against United into next weekend’s game against struggling Sheffield United, a win there could jump-start their season.
In other West Brom news, we believe that one of Albion’s summer signings turned in another man of the match performance against the Red Devils.
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