Rooney wants to see VAR scrapped from the Premier League

Wayne Rooney calls for ‘frustrating’ VAR to be scrapped from the Premier League and claims the Championship is ‘better without it’ as Derby boss hits out at ‘ridiculous’ delays which have players waiting to celebrate goals

  • Wayne Rooney wants to see VAR ditched as it’s taking joy away from the game 
  • The Championship doesn’t use it, and the Derby manager prefers it that way
  • It was another weekend of controversial VAR decisions in the Premier League 
  • Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl saw two key decisions go against him 

Wayne Rooney believes VAR should be ditched as it risks taking away the joy from football.

England’s record goalscorer, who is now in charge of Derby, wants referees to be given back control of decision-making following a series of controversial incidents in the Premier League last weekend.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was furious that James Maddison’s equaliser was allowed to stand in their 3-1 defeat at Leicester, while Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl was equally angry after his team were on the wrong end of two marginal handball calls in their 2-1 home defeat by Wolves.

Derby County manager Wayne Rooney wants to see an end to VAR in the Premier League

Rooney is concerned about the length of time the decisions take, with players left to wait

‘We haven’t got it in the Championship and I think it’s better without it,’ said Rooney. ‘Even though it can work both ways and you are frustrated at times after games, we have to rely on the referees to do the job the best they can.

‘Even though you don’t agree with some decisions, we have to let them do the job and respect their views on it. Watching some of the decisions made through VAR in the Premier League is very frustrating, and you don’t understand how they have reached certain decisions.

‘It takes the emotion out of the moment. I remember some of the goals I scored when I could have been onside or offside. You take a glance over and see the linesman’s flag is down and you carry on with your celebration.’

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl was left frustrated as two marginal handball calls went against his side in their 2-1 defeat to Wolves

Rooney is particularly concerned with the time taken to decide whether a goal should stand. It is now common in Europe’s top leagues for officials to study numerous replays, with players left twiddling their thumbs.

He added: ‘It’s ridiculous that players are waiting around for one minute, two minutes, to see if the goal will stand. If VAR came in and we knew every decision would be right people would accept it – but the fact they aren’t getting all the decisions right is even more frustrating.

‘I saw James Maddison after he scored and he didn’t know whether it was a goal or whether it would be disallowed.

‘It’s the one time the fans feel connected to their club and their player, when they are celebrating a goal together. Take that away and you lose that connection players have with fans.’

James Maddison’s goal celebration for his equaliser against Liverpool was cut short as he wasn’t sure if it would be allowed – but it stood after a VAR check




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