VAR officials admit mistake after Giovani Lo Celso escapes red card for stamp on Cesar Azpilicueta

Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard led fresh criticism of video technology after David Coote, the video assistant referee, admitted that he made a mistake in not sending off Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.

Just four days after the video assistant referee had failed to send off Harry Maguire for kicking Michy Batshuayi in the groin, Lo Celso somehow managed to get away with a second-half stamp on Cesar Azpilicueta in Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat at Chelsea.

The incident was checked by VAR with Coote initially deciding that Lo Celso had nowhere else to put his foot which left a nasty stud mark on Azpilicueta’s leg. Lampard and the Chelsea players could not believe Lo Celso escaped punishment and were not impressed to find out that Stockley Park had subsequently admitted, in a statement to the broadcaster BT Sport, that Coote had got it wrong.

“Not good enough,” said Lampard. “I’m sorry, but it’s not good enough. It’s twice in two games.

“Anybody in the world in football saw that it was a red. It’s a leg breaker without a doubt. This one doesn’t need a monitor, it is a clear decision. I was waiting for the red card to be shown. It is not good enough. Saying afterwards that you made a mistake is not good enough, they had minutes to get it right.”

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho was quick to point out that his side had also been the victims of questionable VAR decisions this season. Mourinho said: “I hope the noise is the same noise when the VAR kills us, I hope it’s the same, against Liverpool when [Andy] Robertson should get the red, against Watford when [Etienne] Capoue should get the red card twice, with the same gentleman here, I hope it’s the same noise.

“Why didn’t they say they made a mistake against Liverpool or Watford? That’s what I mean.”

Speaking after the match on BT Sport, former referee Peter Walton said Oliver should have used his pitchside monitor to review Lo Celso's tackle.

"The referee is allowed to go to his monitor - at the moment I understand that he's not encouraged to go to his monitor," Walton said. "Today's game is a perfect example where Oliver clearly doesn't see the challenge. The VAR looks at it and looks at it again. Michael Oliver should have been encouraged to go over [to the monitor]"

Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett also criticised the video assistant referee, demanding that those responsible for VAR decisions "update" themselves on the laws of the game.

"Come on David Coote VAR," Hackett said. "That is a red card every day. Its not a difficult decision. Lo Celso should have received a red card."