Chelsea boss Antonio Conte heralds VAR as a ‘good opportunity to improve our football’

Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Simon Johnson9 January 2018

Antonio Conte has welcomed the prospect of VAR being used in Chelsea’s EFL Cup semi-final against Arsenal.

VAR was used for the first time in English football on Monday for Brighton’s FA Cup Third Round victory over Crystal Palace.

Chelsea drew 2-2 at Arsenal last week, with the visitors’ first goal coming in controversial circumstances after Eden Hazard won a penalty following a challenge from Hector Bellerin.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger reacted furiously to the decision, saying Hazard should have been booked for diving, something Conte took exception too.

While not referencing that incident, Conte feels VAR will be a positive for the game in this country.

He said: “In Italy, from start of this season, they are doing this. This is a good opportunity to improve our football.

“At the same time, it will be very important to have a bit of time to use in the right way, this new option. I’m positive because when there is big mistake, it’s right to try to correct the mistake.

“At the start (in Italy), it wasn’t easy to accept this solution - to stop the play and to wait for the right decision.

“But I think this could be a good solution You reduce the mistakes, especially the big mistakes and it’s right for football to have a game with less mistakes.”

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