With the match at 1-0 to the visitors to Dean Court, Amad Diallo went down under the challenge of Adrien Truffert, with no spot kick given, and the Cherries went up the other end to score.
The opening goal, and Bournemouth’s goal to make it 2-2, were both penalties which the trio of Mark Chapman, Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney believe were correctly given.
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Shearer said on the first penalty: “I think there's no doubt, it's clear-cut for me.
“Alex Jiménez had caused problems, but doing his defensive work, referee's got a great view, he sees it, he pulls his shirt and gets that one correct. Has to give the penalty and the yellow card.”
Visitors score from the penalty spot. (Image: Richard Crease)
Discussing the next incident, the challenge on Amad before the Christie goal, Rooney said: “I think it's a penalty.
“I think firstly it's an unbelievable pass by Bruno, a great pass, and Amad now has committed his defender and there's two arms on him and he pulls him to the ground and the referee is in a very good position to see it.
“He doesn’t give it, it goes to VAR, VAR doesn’t give it but for me it’s a clear penalty.”
Chapman said: “Because 25 seconds after that, Bournemouth have gone up the other end and Ryan Christie has scored his goal.
“So, your theory on all of this, which is from a human perspective and actually makes a lot of sense.”
Ryan Christie celebrates his goal. (Image: Richard Crease)
Shearer explained: “There's no doubt about that— the referee and the VAR are sort of thinking, oh no, it's only going to highlight the mistake that I think they've made.
“It's going to become bigger because Bournemouth go straight to the other end 20, 25 seconds later and score that goal. I’m with Wayne, I think that should have been a penalty as well.”
The three agreed that the penalty and red card decision for Harry Maguire as he brought down Evanilson was the right call.
But Shearer said: “The referee gets that one right, but if he's given that one, then he should be given the other one as well. There's no doubt.”
Chapman asked the former forwards if they believe that VAR had been consistent, in that it had not intervened for any of the incidents and it had gone with the referee’s on-field decision.
Rooney was clear: “I don't like VAR!”
Referee Stuart Attwell gives a red card to Harry Maguire. (Image: Richard Crease)
He added: “I think you don't mind them coming in and stopping the game, but if they get the right decision.
“So I think we've seen it too many times. I mean, they are getting a lot of decisions right, but I think we've seen it too many times, like the Amad one there, when it's a clear penalty and they don't overturn it. So that's for me, if it's a penalty, they should give it.”
Shearer continued: “You know my feelings, I've said it before. I think the VAR system is making our referees worse because they feel as if they have a comfort blanket.
“Without it, they were able to make decisions themselves. With it now, I think they're scared to make the decision.
“And I believe, looking at them, I don't believe they enjoy it either. And I go back to how long we had it now for, four or five years.
“I go back to what they originally said, maximum benefit, minimum interference. Minimum interference. Remember when they said that? And they're not going to re-referee.”
Chapman said it was a “vicious circle” of referees thinking of VAR as a comfort blanket, but the VAR doesn’t want to be that as it doesn’t want to re-referee.
Shearer replied: “It hasn't worked as they told us it was going to work.
“Remember I said it was only going to be for clear and obvious, and it's going to be for maximum benefit, minimum interference.
“We're seeing it all the time. It's not at all minimum. We're seeing it far too often.”
Rooney said: “Just get rid of it. I think I just don't like it at all. It's taken all the emotion, the joy, everything, the fun of the game away, in my opinion.”