Jack Grealish Injury Sparks Alan Shearer’s Frustration Over Lengthy VAR Delay
England star Jack Grealish endured a frustrating night as he was forced off with an injury just 30 minutes into Manchester City’s Champions League clash against Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium. His early exit left pundit Alan Shearer furious, as he believes a lengthy VAR delay contributed to the issue.
Shearer criticized what he called an “unacceptable” pause in play, which occurred as officials reviewed Erling Haaland’s goal for a potential offside. Both teams were left standing around for nearly four minutes while a decision was reached.
Speaking during commentary, Shearer voiced his frustration: “It certainly doesn’t help when you’ve got elite athletes standing around for four minutes. It cannot help your body. It’s not acceptable that players had to wait that long.”
Grealish, who had been given a rare start by Pep Guardiola, was replaced by Phil Foden. It was a bitterly disappointing end for the winger, who had started brightly and played a key role in Haaland’s opener. Grealish’s clever dinked pass set up Josko Gvardiol, whose chest control led to Haaland finding the net. However, the goal’s lengthy VAR review disrupted the game’s momentum.
Despite the stoppage, Haaland’s goal was eventually allowed to stand. Unfortunately for Grealish, he soon found himself clutching his groin and unable to continue.
The injury setback comes at a tough time for the former Aston Villa star, who has struggled for consistent game time this season. Prior to the Real Madrid clash, he had started just 12 games across all competitions. Now, City will be hoping the issue isn’t serious, with crucial fixtures against Newcastle and the return leg in Madrid looming.
Guardiola previously addressed Grealish’s reduced playing time, citing the strong form of fellow forwards, particularly Savinho. However, he praised Grealish’s fighting spirit:
“Jack has this sense of the street. He is a fighter. He plays for the moment, not by the book. He didn’t feature in recent games because Savinho’s connection with Erling (Haaland) has been incredible. But the season is still open. Against Orient, I saw a glimpse of his determination to prove me wrong—I love that.”
Elsewhere, new signing Nico Gonzalez also picked up an injury on his debut against Leyton Orient but recovered in time to be named on the bench against Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Rodri remains sidelined with a long-term knee issue, though he has been included in City’s Champions League knockout squad.
With a busy schedule ahead, City will be anxiously awaiting updates on Grealish’s condition.
