Taylor Twellman has come up with a bizarre analogy during an MLS match broadcast between St. Louis SC and LAFC, comparing the way in which VAR is often used in the Premier League to ‘circumcising a mosquito’. 

Commenting alongside Jake Zivin on Apple TV’s transmission of Wednesday night’s 0-0 tie, the former U.S. men’s national team (USMNT) striker said ‘different countries and different leagues, they look at offside in a different way’ than in America, where VAR was introduced in MLS games in 2017. 

‘Look at England. It’s like circumcising a mosquito when it comes to looking at VAR’. 

‘Circumcising mosquitoes @TaylorTwellman,’ shared the individual on X, formerly known as Twitter, along with thinking face and exploding head emojis.

Ex-U.S. striker Taylor Twellman compared VAR in England to circumcising a mosquito online

Twellman made the analogy while covering an MLS game between St Louis and LA for Apple 

‘VAR in England is like circumcising a mosquito,’ Twellman replied. ‘You know I’m not wrong.’ 

Over the weekend in the Premier League, VAR judged Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah to be offside when Gabriel Martinelli scored against Everton, while Anthony Gordon had a penalty shout validated against Everton. 

Read Related Also: Bayern Munich set to relaunch bid for Fulham midfielder Palhinha in January as Manchester United’s Scott McTominay and Spurs’ Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg likely to be available in January

Referee Darren England awarded Aston Villa a penalty for Chris Richards’s challenge on Ollie Watkins after consulting VAR in the dugout.

The Premier League stations all its VAR teams in the video operation room (VOR) at Stockley Park in London and the German Football Association in Cologne-Deutz.

VAR consultation was used over the weekend during Everton vs. Arsenal, Crystal Palace-Aston Villa and Newcastle-Brentford, among other Premier League games

During its 2022 season, MLS officials created a Video Review Center in Atlanta where all its VAR teams operate. 

U.S. referees consulted VAR during the latest round of MLS matches on Wednesday, including in the games between Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire, as well as New York City FC vs. Orlando, D.C. United against Atlanta, Portland-San Jose, and New York Red Bulls against Austin FC. 

Penalties were not awarded for potential claims of a foul or handball inside the box in three of those five games. 

Spot kicks were given to New York City FC and Chicago.