'Absolute joke': Fiery Melbourne derby overshadowed by VAR controversy
The A-League’s epic first round derby between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City has been overshadowed by a controversial VAR moment.
After Victory’s marquee man Keisuke Honda opened the scoring in the 28th minute, a bizarre decision levelled the score in the 39th minute.
City’s star player Bruno Fornaroli was deemed to be fouled on the edge of the penalty box, and after the referee was called upon to make a VAR review – the initial foul resulted in a penalty.
It’s fair to say, fans and pundits were absolutely fuming.
“Absolutely disgraceful decision,” Mark Bosnich said.
“Ive always been backing referees…I feel so sorry for Melbourne Victory.
“He has a chance to have a look at it, this is not the VAR, this is the referee not understanding that this is not a foul.
“All of a sudden the first big decision we have here, and there is an absolute stuff-up.”
The comments made by Mark Bosnich echoed the overwhelming chorus of outrage by fans on social media, calling it an “absolute joke”:
VAR are literally the biggest joke ever. That wasn’t even a foul biggest dive #MelbDerby #ALeague
— Sof (@hidinghopeless) October 20, 2018
Some things never change. Fornaroli is still a diver and the VAR is still trash. #melbderby
— James Parkinson (@JamesRParkinson) October 20, 2018
Fall-and-rolli at it again. #MelbDerby #MVCvMCY
— Edward Carroll (@edwardian_times) October 20, 2018
You guys won a premiership off a missed VAR call so you can’t complain here #Melbderby
— Jarrod MacCulloch (@JrodMac92) October 20, 2018
Absolute joke #MelbDerby
— Michael Gigliotti (@giggs0803) October 20, 2018
#MelbDerby I am all for VAR, but that is decision is an absolute shocker. Not even a touch on the player. WTF did the ref see?
— Paul Deery (@Zinaad) October 20, 2018
Was hard to see on the stadium screens but if you were gonna review that decision, the more likely outcome looked like it should have been a foul for diving tbh. #MelbDerby #aleague
— Matthew Galea (@mg91) October 20, 2018
#VAR gonna be keeping a few FFA PR people busy this week. 😬 awful decision. #MelbDerby
— Brad Martin (@Brad_mart) October 20, 2018
Is it really a derby without controversy? #MelbDerby #MVCvMCY
— Ashlee (@_itsashleeee_) October 20, 2018
Former A-League striker turned commentator Archie Thompson also weighed in on the controversial call.
“It’s taken the steam out of what was a dominant performance by Victory,” Archie Thompson said.
“Then you get a silly decision…and again we saw it last year in one of the biggest matches of the season, and now we’re seeing it again.
“I can understand why they’re upset because it’s ruining our game.”
Florin Berenguer wasn’t able to convert the resulting penalty though, but former Leicester defender Richie De Laet pounced on the loose ball to level the score.
The second half was as tight as they come, with the point of difference coming from a City bench player, Riley McGree.
In what was just his first touch of the match, McGree made a bursting run forward to connect with an inch-perfect ball from Luke Brattan – scoring in the 70th minute.
“What an opportunity it was, I had a point to prove tonight,” McGree said.
“I try to give my all every game and I did today.”
The Melbourne derby finished with Melbourne City claiming the bragging rights, with an emphatic 2-1 victory over their biggest rivals.