‘It’s f***ed’: Fuming A-League star avoids sanction for foul-mouthed VAR tirade as FIFA backs controversial penalty

Wellington’s Louis Fenton won’t be sanctioned for his expletive-laden on-air tirade that left ex-Victory star Archie Thompson gobsmacked, despite FIFA backing the controversial penalty that led to the Phoenix defender’s meltdown.

Wellington Phoenix's Mark Fenton swears during a post-match interview with Archie Thompson.

FIFA has backed the controversial penalty given to Melbourne City that sparked Wellington Phoenix defender Louis Fenton’s foul-mouthed blow up on live TV.

Incensed by the handball penalty call from debutante referee Ben Abraham — backed by the controversial VAR system — Fenton exploded with anger.

A post-match catch up with Fox Sports presenter and former Melbourne Victory star Archie Thompson always had the potential to blow up.

And so it did, the 26-year-old unleashing a foul-mouthed tirade over the VAR decision.

“I thought 100 per cent no pen, because it didn’t even hit my f***ing hand,” Fenton said.

“It’s f***ed.”

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Wellington Phoenix’s Louis Fenton swears during a post-match interview with Archie Thompson.

Thompson wasn’t sure what to do, but tried to paper over the cracks by defending Fenton.

“When you do look at the replay, it does look like it’s just hit his chest — Obviously a very disappointed man,” Thompson said.

But A-League referees consultant Strebre Delovski said the decision had been ruled correct by FIFA under a clause in the new rules that says a player with his arm raised above shoulder height is ‘taking a risk’ of being penalised.

With City leading 2-1, Abraham gave the penalty in his first A-League game after Denis Genreau’s 60th-minute cross hit Fenton on the chest and deflected onto his arm. The resultant goal from striker Craig Noone put the match to bed, City eventually going on to win 3-2.

Under FIFA’s widely pilloried new handball rules, which critics claim are fatally confusing, that deflection only matters if Fenton had ‘deliberately played the ball which then touches their hand/arm’, rather than it just hitting him.

Delovski said the game’s video referee, Craig Zetter, had not queried the handball decision because it was not a “clear and obvious error”.

City’s Craig Noone celebrates his matchwinning penalty strike. Picture: Getty Images

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Had Abraham not given the penalty, Zetter would not in all likelihood have intervened either as the decision was a subjective one – not the clear mistake VAR is meant for.

“VAR was brought in to correct howlers, and the very fact we’re having such a debate about this decision tells you it’s not a clear and obvious error,” Delovski said.

“Our bar for intervention remains quite high, as that’s what VAR was originally meant for.”

Meanwhile, Fenton will not face official punishment for his expletive-laden tirade.

A-League bosses are likely to have the equivalent of a “quiet word”, given the level of emotion involved at the time.

Wellington coach Ufuk Talay lamented what he says was a VAR mistake.

“I thought it came off his body first and, if it’s hit his arm after that and, in the new laws, they state that if it hits your body first then it hits your arm, it’s accidental so it’s play on,” Talay said after the match.

“But the decision was made and that changed the game.”

The VAR system has been under fire from all parts in recent weeks and this latest incident will only add fuel to the flame.

Originally published as ‘It’s f***ed’: Fuming A-League star avoids sanction for foul-mouthed VAR tirade as FIFA backs controversial penalty