James Pallotta: 'Champions League without VAR is an absolute joke'

Roma chairman James Pallotta has claimed that the lack of Video Assistant Referee in the Champions League is "an absolute joke".

The Giallorossi claimed a 4-2 victory against Liverpool in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, but went out 7-6 on aggregate.

Referee Damir Skomina waved away two clear penalty appeals from Roma in the second half, and Pallotta was left wondering why VAR was not being used at the highest level of European football.

"It is very clear VAR is needed in the Champions League because you just can't let stuff like this happen," the 60-year-old told BBC Sport at full time.

"You can all look at it yourself. Stephan El Shaarawy in the 49th minute wasn't offside and he gets taken down by the goalie; the 63rd minute was a handball that was obvious to everyone probably in the world except people on the pitch; the 67th minute [Patrik] Schick gets taken down in the box.

"I know it is difficult to ref but it is really embarrassing that we lose on aggregate like that. By the way, it should have been a red card which would have been 10 men in the 63rd minute.

"Liverpool are a great team, congratulations going forward, but if they don't get VAR in the Champions League, stuff like this is an absolute joke."

VAR will be used at the World Cup in Russia and has also been approved for use next season by most of Europe's major leagues, including La Liga, the Bundesliga and Serie A, though the Premier League has chosen to extend trials for another year.