Brighton 1-1 Southampton: VAR “a big problem,” says Saints coach Russell Martin

Southampton head coach Russell Martin says the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system is a “big problem” for the Premier League if it disallows goals like Cameron Archer’s against Brighton.

Archer appeared to have given the Saints the lead at the Amex Stadium on Friday, but the goal was canceled out when his teammate Adam Armstrong was ruled offside.

It took more than four minutes for the controversial decision to be made following a VAR review, with the extent of Armstrong’s interference in the game in question.

It infuriated Martin when his bottom team were denied their first away win of the season in the Premier League and the game ended 1-1.

“My problem is that the decision has weight on the pitch,” Martin told the BBC. “You either have VAR to fix problems or you don’t – and if it’s a goal, it’s a big problem.”

“When a decision is made in the heat of the moment you can accept it, but when you have so much time and we have to wait on the sidelines for so long and the decision is still, in my opinion, the goalkeeper is affected if he is not affected is – that’s a problem.

“I understand why they would give it in the heat of the moment, but that’s why VAR is there.”

The Saints defended themselves brilliantly after Brighton took the lead through Kaoru Mitoma’s opener in the 29th minute.

Flynn Downes equalized in the 59th minute before Archer thought he had scored the decisive winner when he parried away Ryan Fraser’s cross from the left wing.

While the draw moved Brighton into second place, the Saints – who have just one win this season – have five points from 13 league games and four points behind safety.