Following Friday's 1-0 loss to Denmark in the Euro 2024 qualifying round, Michael O'Neill said his Northern Ireland players were "angry and upset" after Callum Marshall, a teenage debutant, had a stoppage-time equalizer disallowed by VAR for a thin margin of error.
Only a few minutes had passed when Marshall entered the game when Jonny Evans' header found the back of the net, canceling out Jonas Wind's goal in the 47th minute and setting off wild celebrations among the 1,700 traveling supporters.
Although Tomasz Kwiatkowski took a long time to analyze the video and find that Evans had been slightly offside when the free-kick was placed into the box, hearts fell when referee Daniel Stefanski signaled a VAR check that would last a full five minutes.
I assumed it was all about "clear and obvious" and the many terms we use in various contexts, O'Neil remarked. Why would they prohibit a goal in that circumstance if it takes that long to do so? I have no idea whose call that is.The person viewing it must make that choice because the referee surely won't go to the monitor to look at it. However, I find it surprising that it took so long given how little the margin was. It's not how technology should be used, in my opinion.
Evans headed Jordan Thompson's free kick goalward from 40 yards out on the right, and Marshall beat Kasper Schmeichel with a flick.
We are looking before the ball is delivered because by the time Jonny heads it, he is obviously onside, according to O'Neill. "Has he benefited in any way? I heard something approximately 30 centimeters from the referee. I'm not sure where he gets that.I'm not exactly sure where we benefit. I am aware that we won't receive a good explanation, so the matter is closed, and we must move on.
When asked if he wished for his team to carry an attitude of unfairness with them, O'Neill responded, "I don't think we need it. That is not necessary for our team to improve so that we can play on Monday night (at home against Kazakhstan).
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