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Sarri disputes VAR decision for Kane's goal v Chelsea

Cape Town - Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri believes Harry Kane's VAR-approved winner for Tottenham Hotspur in Tuesday's League Cup first-leg semi-final was offside.

Kane was originally flagged for offside as he ran through on goal but continued on his run before being brought down in the area by Blues keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Referee Michael Oliver reviewed the decision on VAR and ruled that the England striker was onside. He subsequently awarded a penalty for Kepa's foul on the player.

The 25-year-old then stepped up to convert the penalty in the 26th minute on the night at Wembley Stadium in London.

Nonetheless, Sarri said Chelsea's own TV coverage of the incident showed conclusively that Kane was offside and that the VAR decision was wrong.

He told Sky Sports: "I saw the video from our camera a few minutes ago, it was offside. Our camera was in line with Kane, and it was offside, but it's not important.

"With the head, it's offside. But it's not important. It was important that the linesman stopped the run, he didn't follow the ball, so he had a big influence on our defenders, and at the moment I think the English referees aren't able to use the system.

"If you're not sure with this system, you have to follow the ball, and at the end of the move you decide. In this case, he stopped. He didn't follow the ball, so for our defender it was offside.

"I don't know about the goalkeeper, but for sure the defenders. It's not important, you have to study the system. In Italy in the first period it as difficult to understand, but it's very strange how in the Premier League there isn't this system and it is in the Carabao Cup. It's strange for us, the players and the referees."

The second leg is set to take place on 22 January at Stamford Bridge.

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