James Shield's Sheffield United Column: Suddenly that Hawkeye farce looks an even bigger deal

And not only at Bramall Lane where, had a monumental cock-up involving the Hawkeye goal line technology system and designated VAR official not cost them dear during last month’s visit to Aston Villa, Chris Wilder’s side would have entered Sunday’s final match of the season at Southampton still in with a shout of qualifying for Europe. Watford, fighting for survival at the other end of the Premier League table, have cause to rue events midway through that shambolic evening in the West Midlands too.

Had what we were led to believe was an infallible piece of equipment actually worked and spotted that Oliver Norwood’s free-kick been carried into the net by Orjan Nyland, had Paul Tierney, as he watched the farce unfold from Stockley Park alerted referee Michael Oliver to the fact that something had gone awry, the Hertfordshire club would have been a point ahead of Dean Smith’s men ahead of their showdown with Arsenal.

Of course, mistakes are commonplace in football. It’s played by human beings after all. Had games still been governed by people on the ground rather than computers and folk sat behind video screens enjoying the benefit of free-frames and replays then I’d wager United, despite being left pretty hard done by, would have been more inclined to accept that a genuine error had been made when Norwood’s strike failed to be awarded. The only trouble is, everyone who championed the introduction of technology at the beginning of the campaign, gave the impression that embracing it would make shambles such as the one we witnessed at Villa Park a thing of the past. So the rules have changed.

Before I go on, I feel it’s only fair to recognise that Norwood’s set-piece, coming just before the interval, might not have settled United’s encounter with the rivals from Birmingham. Wilder accepted as much afterwards, because there was still more than 45 minutes remaining. But it changed the dynamic, as the contest ended in stalemate. Perhaps Smith should have followed Marcelo Bielsa’s lead during the closing stages of last season’s race for promotion from the Championship, when the Leeds manager instructed his team to let Villa score following another controversial incident? But he didn’t and, ultimately, Smith was not the one responsible for causing the furore.

Speaking immediately after likening Hawkeye to something sold by ‘Del Boy’, Wilder told journalists that United’s hierarchy were considering their response after hearing its creators “unreservedly” apologise for what was apparently an unprecedented level of “occlusion.”

“The system was tested and proved functional prior to the start of the match in accordance with the IFAB Laws of the Game and confirmed as working by the match officials,” the said. “The system has remained functional throughout.”

Except - clearly - it wasn’t. And although we will never know for sure, that could end up costing United the £2.9m handed to clubs who enter the Europa League and Watford - well - the mind boggles.

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