Vincent Kompany was left frustrated following Luton Town’s late equaliser against Burnley to snatch a crucial point at Turf Moor. Kompany was convinced Elijah Adebayo fouled Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford before substitute Carlton Morris nodded in the crucial goal in the 92nd minute. “I expect the referee to see it. It was that obvious,” the Burnley boss told TNT Sports.
A frustrated Vincent Kompany has addressed the decision to award Luton Town’s late equaliser, stressing that he felt it was an “obvious” foul on Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford.
Trailing by a goal in added -ime, the Hatters sprung into action late on and drew level through a controversial Carlton Morris header in the 92nd minute to earn a 1-1 draw.
The goal was immediately checked by VAR for a foul on Trafford, who felt he was nudged in mid-air by Luton striker Elijah Adebayo.
However, VAR determined that the contact between Trafford and Adebayo was no more than a coming together and the goal stood.
Boos rang around Turf Moor as Tony Harrington blew the full-time whistle moments later, as a crucial point for Luton was sealed in the battle for survival.
In the opposite dugout, Burnley were left frustrated at two important points dropped against their fellow strugglers.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Burnley boss Kompany felt let down by the decision and questioned the consistency of the referees and VAR across the course of the season.
“I don’t get it any more, if we get a foul against us that is given as a penalty as soft as it did against Aston Villa, then what is this here?” he questioned, reflecting on a controversial last-minute penalty given against the Clarets in a 3-2 defeat at Villa Park.
“There is a clear attempt to stop the goalkeeper getting up. The referee has got to get it right.”
On whether he expected VAR to intervene with more authority, Kompany said: “First, I expect the referee to see it. It was that obvious.
“None of the Luton players have celebrated, nobody.
“The first look from the striker, which is normal – and nothing against him because he is doing his job – but the first look of this striker is to Trafford and then to the referee to see if he got away with it.
“Luckily we’ve got VAR, we think ‘okay, that’s going to sort it out’, and then it rolls, it rolls, it rolls, lack of decision and that’s it, Burnley are 1-1.
“Fouls are collisions,” he said. “What do you think he [Adebayo] is looking at?
“He’s looking at the keeper, takes two steps back to back into him. What is it? I don’t understand.
“I’m absolutely fine if we concede this goal and it’s consistent and this is allowed. If everyone can do it then I’ll tell my strikers to go on and do it, on set-pieces and everything.
“But remember, we’ve just dropped points at Villa after making an unbelievable performance on something that was the softest red card and the softest penalty against us.
“It just keeps happening.”
Burney would have closed the gap on Luton with a win, but remain four points behind Rob Edwards’ side in 19th place having played a game more.
Three points would have been a real boost for Kompany’s side ahead of a tough run of fixtures, which includes facing Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal in their next five.
Luton, one spot from safety in 18th place, will want to take the momentum from another strong finish into their next Premier League game against Brighton & Hove Albion at the end of the month.
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