Aberdeen 2-0 Motherwell: VAR Controversy at Pittodrie
Scotland midfielder John McGinn described the use of VAR as "a mess" following a contentious Scottish Cup match where Aberdeen defeated Motherwell 2-0 at Pittodrie Stadium.
The match was marked by three red cards, all influenced by decisions involving VAR and referee John Beaton.
Oscar Priestman received a red card after he obstructed Lyall Cameron, who was in a goal-scoring position. This foul led to a free-kick from which Aberdeen's Kevin Nisbet scored, finding the bottom corner.
Dennis Geiger, making his debut for Aberdeen, was sent off for a high and wild tackle to the groin of Lukas Fadinger, which balanced the teams numerically. However, shortly after the restart, Motherwell's Liam Gordon was also dismissed for a foul on Toyosi Olusanya.
Both Priestman and Gordon were judged to have denied clear goal-scoring opportunities after referee Beaton reviewed the incidents on the VAR monitor.
"I've sent you to the screen let's send you to an angle from the North Sea to back it up," McGinn, who has earned 83 caps for Aston Villa and whose brother Paul captains Motherwell, commented on social media.
In a post-match interview with BBC Scotland, Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou expressed confusion over the decision to send off Liam Gordon.
"We get Liam Gordon sent off in a decision that is a mystery to me and will remain a mystery to me because there are two players covering behind him who will, without a shadow of a doubt, get in his way or at least make sure it's never a very obvious goal chance."
The Scottish Football Association has been contacted for comment regarding the VAR decisions.
Aberdeen secured a victory over Motherwell in the Scottish Cup tie, a match notable for three red cards.
