VAR causing havoc

I’m sure the referees are happy with the system because they are not being blamed — all of the focus is on VAR. That is why we need to give referees the final call and, if a review of a decision is necessary, let them take another look.

At Spurs on a few weeks ago, Jan Vertonghen tripped Watford’s Gerard Deulofeu in the area and my immediate thought was: ‘Penalty.’ I was astonished when VAR did not intervene and instruct that a penalty should be awarded. The defender made no contact with the ball and tripped his opponent. At the very least the referee should have been told to take a second look.

Mike Riley, head of the PGMOL, said recently there had been four VAR errors this season. I, like many others, believe there have been far more, especially when it comes to fouls in the penalty area being missed. We cannot have mistakes when the VAR official has every angle available to him.

It is for these reasons and more that i believe that the time has come for VAR to go or at least at the end of the season. It is ruining games and not allowing players or supports to fully enjoy when a goal is scored as they have to wait and see if it will count.