Why VAR was not in use for Man Utd vs Leicester after Harry Maguire nets controversial winner

The reason why the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was not in use during Manchester United’s FA Cup clash against Leicester City has now been revealed. Despite the late drama at Old Trafford, VAR was not available for this particular match due to technical issues that arose prior to kick-off.

On Friday night, Manchester United fought their way into the fifth round of the FA Cup, but it wasn’t without its tense moments. Ruben Amorim’s men were facing a determined Leicester side, who had taken a 1-0 lead into halftime thanks to Bobby Decordova-Reid’s goal. United’s performance in the first half was underwhelming, and they were booed off by the home crowd, who voiced their displeasure at the team’s inability to break down the opposition.

However, the second half brought a renewed sense of urgency and attacking intent. United equalized in the 68th minute through a well-taken goal from Joshua Zirkzee. But the real drama came deep into stoppage time, when Harry Maguire rose highest to head home a dramatic winner, sending the home crowd into raptures.

While VAR is typically used in FA Cup matches to assist with key decisions, its absence raised some questions among fans and pundits. According to the FA, technical difficulties with the equipment at Old Trafford led to the decision not to use VAR for this particular fixture. This meant that the on-field referees were solely responsible for making critical decisions, without the aid of video reviews.

Despite the lack of VAR, the match continued with plenty of drama, and Manchester United managed to get the job done in the end. The absence of VAR didn’t impact the outcome of the game, with United emerging victorious, but it did highlight the importance of technology in modern football and the potential consequences when it’s not available.

For Manchester United, the win was a vital one as they continue their pursuit of silverware in the FA Cup. The focus will now shift to their upcoming matches, with Amorim hoping to build on this performance and secure further progress in the competition. Meanwhile, Leicester will be disappointed to have come so close, but they’ll be proud of their resilience and performance, especially in the first half.