VAR heartbreak denies Burnley historic comeback and leaves survival hopes fading

• Two late VAR interventions overturned what looked like a remarkable 4-3 comeback win over Brentford.
• Burnley manager Scott Parker described the defeat as heartbreaking as the Clarets slipped eight points from safety.
• Alan Shearer criticised the handball law, saying it is not fit for purpose.

For a few breathless seconds, Turf Moor believed it was witnessing one of the greatest comebacks in Premier League history. Burnley had clawed their way back from three goals down against Brentford and Zian Flemming’s late finish appeared to complete a stunning turnaround.

The stadium erupted when Flemming poked home what looked to be a 78th minute winner to make it 4-3. Instead, celebration turned to disbelief as the video assistant referee ruled that Jaidon Anthony’s shoulder was marginally offside in the build up.

Burnley’s despair deepened in stoppage time. Trailing once more, Ashley Barnes thought he had rescued a precious point with the final kick of the match, only for a five minute VAR review to conclude that the ball had brushed his arm before he scored. The goal was disallowed, confirming a devastating 4-3 defeat.

The double setback left Burnley eight points adrift of safety and staring at relegation. Manager Scott Parker described the evening as heartbreaking.

“It was heartbreaking for us because we deserved that,” Parker said. “VAR and the fine margins of technology are the game we live in now. Offside is offside and if it is handball, it is handball, but it feels so harsh.”

Anthony, whose cross led to Flemming’s disallowed goal, said the decision was particularly frustrating.

“I have seen the one where I am offside. It is my shoulder,” he said. “If I scored with that part of my body it would not be a goal. It is disappointing.”

Former England striker Alan Shearer, working as a pundit for Match of the Day, was highly critical of the handball law following Barnes’ late disallowed effort.

“I just hate the handball rule,” Shearer said. “It is messed up in every single way. There are too many interpretations and it is not fit for purpose. For fans to be waiting that long in the stadium does not seem right and it is not fair.”

Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann defended the decision, pointing to the wording of the law which states that any goal scored immediately after contact with the arm, even accidentally, must be ruled out.

“The law is clear,” Cann said. “It was accidental, but it was correctly disallowed under the current interpretation.”

Burnley had shown remarkable spirit to recover from a 3-0 first half deficit, and victory would have moved them within five points of safety, renewing belief in a great escape. Instead, defeat leaves Parker’s side in 18th place, with just 19 points from 29 matches and little margin for error.

Bottom club Wolves appear all but relegated, but Burnley’s hopes now hang by the thinnest of threads. For a brief moment, survival felt possible. By full time, reality had returned, harshly and without mercy.