Dusan Tadic has admitted that he would be against the introduction of video technology to help match officials, despite Southampton's controversial EFL Cup final loss.
The midfielder made the shock revelation in the wake of his side's heartbreaking 3-2 cup defeat, to Manchester United on Sunday, as he told the Daily Mirror that football would lose its emotional aspect if technology helped referees during matches.
The Saints had a perfectly legitimate goal ruled out for offside with the score poised at 0-0 - Manolo Gabbiadini's close range finish being chalked off despite the striker clearly being onside - but Tadic explained why he would not like to see referees helped with controversial decisions, despite his side missing out on lifting silverware against the Red Devils.
Was Manolo Gabbiadini offside before scoring for Southampton against Manchester United? #SFC #MUFC https://t.co/SkqbxDcDEz
He said: No (I don't support it), because with this you will lose a little bit of the flow of the game.
Football is a quick game. Everything happens quickly. There's a lot of emotion and passion. Referees, we believe them, they need to make good decisions, then there will be no point.�
Instead, Tadic claimed that match officials needed to be on their guard at all times, and stated that those in charge of refereeing games need to concentrate in a bid to wipe out disputable decisions.
He added: It's important to get the right decision. Maybe for that kind of situation where you're not sure, and it can be very quick, maybe then. Mistakes are normal. It's not good when it happens to you. Referees need to concentrate and try not to make mistakes.�
Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic secured the EFL Cup for Jose Mourinho's men with an 87th minute winner after Southampton had come from 2-0 to draw level through Gabbiadini's brace.
Saints boss Claude Puel spoke in the aftermath of the cruel loss and, in contrast to Tadic, revealed his desire to see technology implemented to aid referees with offside calls.
He had said: "I would like, of course, the video [technology] for the future.
"We scored first, but the decision was not for us. We had a very good start, and it's always better to be 1-0 up. Sometimes you get a bad decision and it's important to accept this."
Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier was also left baffled by the contentious ruling, and claimed United would have benefitted from the decision if it had been the other way around.
Shocking decision. Replays show Manolo Gabbiadini not offside as he tapped home. Bertrand was, but he wasn't. #MUFC 0-0 #SaintsFC
He said: (If United had scored like that) it wouldn't have been given offside, I genuinely think that. The flag wouldn't have gone up in the first place.
Big teams get so many more decisions. I still can't understand how he can give Gabbiadini offside when the ball was played by Cedric (Soares, Southampton's right-back), he couldn't even see Gabbiadini because a (United) defender was in the way.
Surely that gives him a clue that, actually, Gabbiadini wasn't offside.�
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