Antonio Conte became furious after VAR denied Tottenham a spectacular late goal that would have propelled them into the Champions League Round of 16.
The feisty Italian admitted he was ‘very upset’ as he addressed the media in his post-match press conference, launched a rant about the lack of ‘honesty’ in football, then left after answering a single question.
Harry Kane scored in stoppage time to seemingly complete a comeback to beat Sporting Lisbon 2-1, after coming on at half-time 1-0.
The striker fired home five minutes into added time to spark wild celebrations on the pitch and in the dugout, with Conte dancing on the touchline with the hosts believing the effort had sent them through to the knockout stages .
However, their celebrations were interrupted by a VAR check and, after a four-minute wait, it was ruled Kane was in front of the ball when Emerson Royal’s header hit Flavio Nazinho and ricocheted his way. attacking to put the ball in the net.
Conte was sent off for his angry protests, while Sporting players and staff later celebrated the decision, which meant former Spurs ace Marcus Edwards’ strike in the first half against his former club – which was then canceled out by Rodrigo Bentancur’s 81st minute. header – gave all four Group D teams a chance to qualify for the knockout stage before the final game.
And it’s fair to say Conte wasn’t happy, as he answered a single question with a two-minute rant about the “unfair decision” before rising from his chair and walking out of the press room.
“I think there are times when you can maybe be a little smart to figure out that you just disallowed a legal goal because the goal was legal, the ball is in front of Kane,” Conte began – which , unsurprisingly, is just what a furious Jamie O’Hara said on talkSPORT after the full-time whistle.
“And then the VAR. I repeat you know I do not comment on the decisions of the referees but the VAR, this season, I do not know why between the Premier League and the Champions League, we are not so lucky.
“I don’t know why so far we are also the only team to have repeated the penalty and every penalty I will see, if the goalkeeper moves in line, I see it often. I want to see the repetition of a penalty in the Premier League.
“I think we’re not so lucky with VAR but I think they create big damage. I’d like to see if that kind of decision you can make with a top team, in an important game , yeah I would like to see if the VAR is so brave to make this decision.
“I repeat that it’s an unfair decision because the ball is in front of Kane. Sorry, but I’m really upset because sometimes you can accept this situation and sometimes I think it’s not good because I don’t see the situation. honesty in this type of situation and when I don’t see that, I get really, really upset.
The result means Tottenham need a point away from Marseille on Tuesday to qualify for the knockout stages and Conte has called on the club to speak to those affected about the VAR decision.
He added: “For the game, we played the first half with low intensity and Sporting Lisbon deserved to stay 1-0 and at the end of the game after our second half, I think we deserved more. get three points.
“But now for this decision we have to wait for the last game against Marseille and I repeat this decision, yeah it creates big damage.
“I hope the club understands this and that in the right situation they also talk with the people they need to talk to because otherwise only the manager can talk.
“I think the club must be strong because I repeat that this situation creates big, big damage. Now we don’t know what will happen next week.
“If we go out, then I want to see.
“OK, thank you very much,” Conte finally said as he quickly left.