Alan Shearer slams VAR after Jack Grealish Man City injury vs Real Madrid - 'it's unacceptable'

Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer has blamed the VAR stoppage for Erling Haaland's opener against Real Madrid for Jack Grealish being forced off through injury.

Haaland scored his first goal against the European champions in five attempts to put Manchester City 1-0 up in the first-leg of their Champions League play-off tie.

The striker combined well with Josko Gvardiol before guiding the ball past Thibaut Courtois in the 19th minute. The video assistant referee took just under four minutes to check the goal for offside before it was given.

Less than 10 minutes later, Grealish hobbled off the pitch after being unable to continue. The forward had been selected by Pep Guardiola for his qualities off the leg wing but he lasted just half an hour.

The England international played a crucial role in City's opening goal as he chipped the ball over the top to Gvardiol before Haaland did the rest. During the VAR check, Shearer pointed out the time players spend standing and waiting during a review.

He said: "It's not accepted either, by the way, you've got finely-tuned athletes who are hanging around and standing still for three-and-a-half minutes now. No wonder there's so many injuries in the game."

When Grealish went off not long later, he added: “He played a huge part in the goal. It certainly doesn’t help when you’ve got elite athletes that are standing around for almost four minutes, it cannot help you or your body.

"It’s not acceptable that players are having to wait around that long."

Manchester City wrapped up the 2023/24 season with a fourth successive Premier League title, but they missed out on another Treble with defeat in the FA Cup final and Champions League quarter-finals. It's now time for Pep Guardiola