United CB Harry Maguire blames this personnel for altering the cause of the game in favor of Chelsea

**“I Thought We’d Seen It All, But I Guess We Were Wrong”: Harry Maguire Slams VAR Controversy in Chelsea Clash**

Amid a Premier League campaign already plagued by disputed referee decisions, Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has stirred the pot again over VAR’s involvement in the sport. Following United’s narrow 1-0 loss to Chelsea, Maguire was outspoken in his criticism of a goal that was nullified, claiming it was mistakenly overturned by VAR.

The disputed moment came in the 16th minute when Maguire looked to have put United ahead with a composed finish inside the box. However, VAR reviewed the play and disallowed the goal, determining he was offside by a fine margin—based on the location of his foot and knee. This call provoked a backlash from United fans, many of whom argued that the offside lines were placed inaccurately, seemingly referencing the wrong Chelsea player. They pointed to Marc Cucurella as the actual last defender, implying that Maguire should have been considered onside. This has intensified allegations of referee bias and raised concerns about the precision and impartiality of VAR decisions.

Speaking after the game, Maguire didn’t hold back: “I thought we’ve seen it all, but I guess we were wrong… This is just another scheme fabricated by Chelsea and the board to let us lose today. When is there any fairness in this league? We pour out our hearts and minds on the pitch, and this is what we get in return.”

Maguire has been involved in controversial VAR moments before. In a past match against West Brom, he openly criticized officials for reversing a penalty call after a drawn-out VAR assessment, saying, “We were so certain it was a penalty. Not sure why they needed to send him \[the referee] to a monitor. The clip was minimal, but it was a penalty. It seems like the decisions are going against us.”

The trend of unfavorable VAR rulings affecting Manchester United hasn’t gone unnoticed by both fans and analysts. Many are questioning how consistently and clearly VAR is applied, with increasing calls for a full-scale reassessment of its use in the Premier League.

Maguire’s reaction also highlights the mental strain such judgments can inflict on players. Feelings of unfairness and annoyance can dampen morale and influence performance. As Maguire has previously acknowledged, “As a footballer, it’s easy to look around and blame other people and blame your teammate or the staff or tactics. You’ve got to look at yourself. We’re the ones that go on the pitch. We’re the ones that have to defend. You’ve got to take responsibility. And every one of us has to do better in these moments.”

With the Premier League’s reputation for intensity and international recognition, addressing these issues is essential to uphold the spirit of the sport. Ensuring VAR operates with accuracy and openness is vital to keeping the trust of all stakeholders—players, coaches, and supporters alike.

As the season unfolds, the spotlight will remain on league authorities to observe how they tackle these pressing concerns. Maguire and Manchester United are hopeful that upcoming games will be resolved through actions on the field rather than disputed calls from officials.

Until then, the discourse around VAR’s role in football continues, with Maguire’s latest remarks further igniting the ongoing discussion. Whether this leads to actual reforms is still uncertain, but one fact stands out: the debate surrounding VAR and its effect on

football is far from settled.