MX23RW : Friday, September 6 08:38:44| >> :600:342320:342320:

Ex-referee Keith Hackett calls for VAR review

Ex-referee Keith Hackett calls for VAR review
© Reuters
Former ref says changes need to be made.

Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett wants a change in the VAR process and further training during the international break, saying: "The situation is untenable."

Controversy continued to dog the new system over the weekend, with Aston Villa and Watford aggrieved while Leicester's Youri Tielemans had a lucky escape.

Hackett wrote in the Daily Telegraph: "The international break has come at a good time for the Premier League's referees because they are really struggling with the video assistant referee process.

"I have always been a big supporter of technology but we are seeing no consistency in how or when it is used. Referees are looking foolish.

"The situation is untenable and I hope that Mike Riley, who oversees the elite refereeing panel, calls them together over the next fortnight so there is a consensus on what constitutes a clear and obvious error and when the VAR should intervene."

Tielemans went unpunished after catching Bournemouth's Callum Wilson on the ankle with what Hackett, Riley's predecessor as general manager of Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL), described as "the definition of a dangerous and reckless tackle" and "precisely the reason VAR was introduced".

Villa had a late Henri Lansbury equaliser disallowed after referee Kevin Friend penalised Jack Grealish for diving in the build-up – Hackett accepted the goal itself could not be awarded, with the whistle already having gone, but said Gary Cahill's challenge on Grealish "was a foul inside the area" and would "merit a penalty being awarded".

Jack Grealish reacts after being booked for diving
Jack Grealish was incredulous after being booked for diving (Bradley Collyer/PA)

West Ham were also denied a penalty after Norwich midfielder Tom Trybull's challenge on Sebastien Haller, while Newcastle scored against Watford despite the ball bouncing off the arm of Isaac Hayden in the build-up.

Even a slight and accidental touch off an arm which scores or creates a goal is automatically punished, without the usual "clear and obvious" caveat for VAR intervention.

Wolves and Manchester City have already learned that the hard way this season, with disallowed goals for Leander Dendoncker and Gabriel Jesus respectively, and Hackett wrote: "This makes VAR look foolish because of a lack of consistency. For this incident to have a different outcome is difficult to justify."

Hackett believes a key part of the solution is for on-field referees to review decisions themselves on the pitchside monitor when prompted by the video assistant referee at the Premier League's Stockley Park hub.

Mike Riley at the VAR hub at Stockley Park
Hackett wants PGMOL general manager Mike Riley, pictured, to take the final decision out of the hands of officials at Stockley Park (Christopher Lee/PA)

"Riley could ask the referee to use the pitchside monitor to make the final decision, rather than the video referee," he continued.

"In England we have decided that the officials in Stockley Park will make the final call. It compels the video referee to decide what constitutes a 'clear and obvious' error, rather than a referee deciding themselves they have got a decision wrong."

body check tags ::

VAR - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Keith Hackett

Share this article now:
Instagram - Follow Sports Mole
Bruno Fernandes celebrates after scoring for Sporting Lisbon in their Europa League clash with Villarreal in February 2019
Read Next:
Real Madrid to complete deadline day Fernandes signing?
>

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
/esi/758/0/index.html - esi:0:site:0:-p-: {0}: - :T758:-: {0}: < ! - - T  758 {0} - - >  : 
European Championship Qualifying
US Open Semi-Finals
9pm
Medvedev
Dimitrov
11pm
Berrettini
Nadal
International Friendlies
Autumn Internationals
European Under-21 Championship Qualifying
Scottish Challenge Cup
Segunda Division
Super League
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool4400123912
2Manchester CityMan City43101431110
3Leicester CityLeicester42206338
4Crystal Palace42113217
5Arsenal42116607
6Everton42114407
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham421167-17
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd41217435
9Tottenham HotspurSpurs41217615
10Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd41215505
11Chelsea412169-35
12Burnley411256-14
13Southampton411246-24
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle411235-24
15Bournemouth411258-34
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton411247-34
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves403145-13
18Aston Villa410346-23
19Norwich CityNorwich4103610-43
20Watford401328-61

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Login, I already have my ad-free pass
Log in to customise Sports Mole
Buy ad-free access (show me the options)
Buy monthly ad-free access for £1.20/month
Buy yearly ad-free access for £12 (2 months free)
Settings - Logout - Manage your account
Settings - Logout - Manage your account