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Referee voices what most of the football world is thinking.
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was introduced to the Premier League in the 2019/20 season. It had already been used in football prior to this, notably at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where it made its debut on the global stage.
Years later, football fans still haven't warmed to it, and it doesn't seem to have reduced the errors it was intended to eliminate.
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Controversial decisions, questionable penalties, handball calls, marginal offsides, and instances where VAR's inaction is perplexing despite seemingly necessary intervention, are all still commonplace.
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20:56 - 17.05.2025
'Its rubbish' — Ian Wright, Rooney support Guardiola after VAR decision in FA Cup final
Manchester City lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final, and there was outrage after a controversial VAR decision.
Most importantly, VAR has killed the joy. Every goal is celebrated tentatively, with the possibility of it being overturned even if the referee or assistant referee haven't signaled anything. Checking decisions can take several minutes, further dampening the excitement.
What Premier League referee said
Former Premier League referee Bobby Madley has been outspoken in his criticism, stating that he hates VAR because it drains the emotion from the game.
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19:52 - 03.05.2025
EPL: Why Bournemouth's decisive goal stood against Arsenal
A controversial VAR decision permitted Bournemouth's second goal to stand against Arsenal, despite the Gunners' claims of handball.
"As a fan, I hate it, I hate it. I love the Championship, I love League One, I'm still a fan. I love League One because when you score a goal, you look at the referee, then the assistant, if he hasn't raised his flag, it's a goal. VAR takes the emotion out of football because there are games where it all comes down to one moment, one goal, and that's it. To take away that emotion, to wait and wait, and it all seems like an eternity – as a fan, I'm not a fan of it," said the 39-year-old former official.
Bobby Madley officiated 91 Premier League matches between 2013 and 2018 before being dismissed for sending a video mocking a disabled person to a friend.
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10:13 - 04.04.2025
‘Soon, AI will referee the game’ – Postecoglou furious after VAR chopped his side’s goal against Chelsea
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has criticised VAR once again after a controversial moment in his side’s loss to Chelsea.
He briefly refereed in Norway before returning to officiate in the English Football League. In the recently concluded season, he refereed matches in the English second, third, and fourth tiers, as well as League Cup games.
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