AliousDanny Rohl has once again voiced his frustration over the lack of VAR in the Sky Bet Championship following Sheffield Wednesday’s controversial 2-1 defeat to Sunderland. The Owls fell victim to a brace from Eliezer Mayenda, who increased his goal tally to four this season.
However, the match was overshadowed by controversy, particularly surrounding Mayenda’s first goal at Hillsborough. Referee Will Finnie made two key decisions in the first half that did not favor Sheffield Wednesday, potentially changing the course of an otherwise competitive game.
One of the most contentious moments came early on when Sunderland defenders Leo Hjelde and Chris Mepham appeared to get tangled up during a long throw-in from Svante Ingelsson. The ball seemed to strike Hjelde’s arm, leading to penalty appeals from Wednesday players, but Finnie dismissed them. Sunderland capitalized on the let-off in the 34th minute when Hjelde’s lofted pass was misjudged by Max Lowe, allowing Mayenda to control the ball—seemingly with his arm—before finding the back of the net.
Rohl, clearly exasperated by a series of unfavorable refereeing calls, reiterated his belief that VAR should be introduced in the Championship to support officials. “I think I’ve made my stance clear over the past few weeks,” he said when asked about VAR’s potential implementation.
“What we need is to assist referees on the pitch. Every week, it feels like a major decision goes against us. Today, two avoidable goals and two big refereeing calls cost us again, and here we are with another 2-1 defeat. Before the opening goal, there was a clear handball in the box, but the referee didn’t see it. If that’s given, we go 1-0 up, and the entire game plays out differently.”
Rohl emphasized the frustration of knowing that everyone watching could see the handball, yet the decision stood. “I can’t influence that moment, but this is exactly why referees need more support.”
Despite the setback, Rohl remained optimistic about Wednesday’s future, even as their play-off hopes took a hit with a third consecutive league defeat. “At this point, I feel like I’ve been saying the same thing for the past four weeks,” he reflected. “We’re playing well, creating chances, controlling games, and dominating at home. We’re aggressive, we’re on the front foot.”
Determined to stay positive, he added, “We have to keep putting in these performances. I believe momentum will turn in our favor soon.”
Rohl also acknowledged the feeling of frustration surrounding recent results. “Right now, every small decision seems to go against us, and football is a game of fine margins. Those little moments make all the difference.”
On the other hand, Sunderland boss Régis Le Bris was pleased with his team’s performance, recognizing the importance of the victory as they edge closer to their promotion rivals. “This was a crucial win tonight. After two defeats, we had to respond, and I think the players showed real character,” he said.
Le Bris remained focused on Sunderland’s goal: securing victories and climbing the table. “Our only aim is to keep winning. The rest—the standings, the top three fight—will take care of itself.”
When asked about the handball incident that led to Sunderland’s opening goal, Le Bris smirked and played it cool. “I haven’t seen it yet,” he said. “Football is like that—sometimes decisions go your way, sometimes they don’t.”
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