Man Utd vs Ipswich plunged into chaos as VAR disabled mid-game due to bizarre reason

Manchester United's clash against Ipswich at Portman Road was plunged into chaos before half-time as VAR was disabled.

Ruben Amorim's first game in charge at United got off to the perfect start when Marcus Rashford put the visitors ahead after just 80 seconds.

The remainder of the half hasn't run as smoothly, with Andre Onana forced to deny Liam Delap with a fine diving save, before Omari Hutchinson equalised with a stunning curling strike into the top corner from outside the penalty area via a deflection off the head of Noussair Mazraoui.

There were no issues with the goal - but VAR would not have been able to intervene if there had been.

Around the 35 minute mark, both managers were informed by the fourth official that VAR would not be enabled for the foreseeable future at Stockley Park.

The reason given is that the fire alarm was set off in the building where the VAR hub is situated, causing a power cut and evacuation and for VAR to be disabled.

VAR was then back in commission shortly before the half-time break, with around seven minutes having elapsed between the fire alarm being set off and the re-enabling.

In a statement posted to Twitter, the Premier League Match Centre account confirmed: "The match will be operating without VAR until further notice due to a fire alarm at the VAR Hub at Stockley Park."

Fortunately for the PGMOL, there were to be no flashpoints during that brief period - although a confrontation between Delap and Mazraoui did threaten to blow over shortly before half-time.

There was controversy over a decision made in Liverpool's 3-2 win over Southampton, with the referee giving a penalty to the Saints for a foul on Tyler Dibling by Andy Robertson.

Image: Sky Sports

VAR sided with the on-field decision, although there was debate over whether the contact was made prior to the white line which defines the penalty area and the spot kick should not have been awarded.

Regarding that decision, the Match Centre account explained: "The referee's call of penalty for the challenge by Robertson on Dibling is checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed there was no conclusive evidence that the contact occurred outside the penalty area."