Anfield turned into a storm of drama and emotion as Liverpool manager Arne Slot unleashed his fury following his side’s 2–1 defeat to Manchester United — a match mired in controversy and renewed anger over the Premier League’s VAR system.
What should have been a thrilling encounter between two of England’s biggest clubs quickly descended into outrage, as two major refereeing calls became the focal point of post-match discussions.
Slot, typically calm and analytical, shocked reporters and fans alike with his outburst after the final whistle. The Dutchman condemned the officiating as “an embarrassment to football”, suggesting that decisions made on the day had “destroyed the integrity of the game.”
His words spread like wildfire on social media, sparking heated debates and fresh criticism of the technology that was supposed to bring fairness and clarity to the sport.
“The level of corruption just keeps rising,” Slot vented. “How are we supposed to trust VAR when the same mistakes keep happening? Everyone could see what happened — yet they looked the other way.”
The manager’s anger was mainly fueled by two key incidents that drastically shifted the momentum of the match.
The first occurred in the 68th minute, when Amad Diallo appeared to handle the ball before setting up Marcus Rashford for United’s decisive goal.
Despite loud appeals from Liverpool players, VAR swiftly reviewed the play and decided there was no handball, allowing the goal to stand.
The replay footage, however, clearly showed the ball striking Amad’s arm — something that, by current Premier League laws, should have nullified the goal.
A livid Slot could be seen on the touchline shouting, “Check it properly!”, as the referee confirmed the decision.
Earlier in the game, another contentious moment unfolded when Alexis Mac Allister was struck in the head during an aerial duel.
Despite obvious signs of injury — bleeding and dizziness play continued, and no immediate medical review was initiated.
Slot later revealed that the Argentine midfielder complained of dizziness in the dressing room, voicing serious concern for player safety. “If VAR isn’t going to intervene when a player’s health is at risk,” he said, “then what’s the point of having it at all?”
In response to the mounting backlash, both the FA and PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) confirmed they would launch a formal review into the refereeing and VAR procedures from the match.
A statement from the FA promised a “comprehensive assessment” of the decisions, following league protocols for official evaluations.
Meanwhile, fans took to social media to vent their frustration, making #VARcorruption one of the top trending topics within minutes. “You can literally see the ball hit Amad’s arm,” one supporter raged. Another wrote, “Mac Allister was clearly concussed, and the officials ignored it — it’s disgraceful.”
Even neutral fans joined in the condemnation, urging the Premier League to finally release VAR audio recordings to the public something officials have consistently resisted.
Liverpool’s loss will likely be remembered less for the football itself and more for the controversy that followed.
Arne Slot’s emotional reaction has reignited one of the league’s fiercest debates whether VAR is truly making football fairer, or if it’s deepening mistrust in the system meant to protect the game’s integrity.
For many fans and pundits, Sunday’s events at Anfield may have been the clearest sign yet that English football’s officiating crisis is far from over.
