None of the four English clubs in the Champions League sent their managers to this week's UEFA VAR briefing
Thursday 7 February 2019 22:12, UK
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin told Europe's top managers they have "no excuses" for moaning about video assistant referees (VAR) anymore after only five of them came to a special briefing on the subject this week.
The Slovenian was speaking at Thursday's UEFA Congress in Rome, where he was re-elected to lead European football's governing body for another four years.
Having told his audience, which included FIFA president Gianni Infantino, that he would continue to defend European football's interests in a "respectful but uncompromising" fashion, he then told reporters what he thinks about those who complain about VAR.
"With VAR we prepared a meeting with all the coaches from Champions League teams in Frankfurt on Monday and only five came," Ceferin said.
Then, checking his notes, he listed the five who made it - Massimiliano Allegri (Juventus), Bruno Genesio (Lyon), Thomas Tuchel (Paris St Germain), Eusebio Di Francesco (Roma) and Sergio Conceicao (Porto) - before excusing Liverpool because they were playing West Ham that night.
The other clubs, which include Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham, sent assistant coaches or other members of staff, including one that sent staff from their marketing department.
"For me it's not only a lack of respect for (UEFA's head of refereeing) Roberto Rosetti and his team but the influence of managers is huge and if they complain about referees they should at least come see what the experts say about VAR," he said.
"So no, they have no excuses anymore, especially the ones who did not even come."
