MX23RW : Thursday, April 25 22:37:19| >> :600:100669018:100669018:

Keith Hackett insists VAR should be operated by specialists, not referees

The ex-head of PGMOL believes retired referees should be given training to operate the system.

Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett believes VAR specialists should operate the technology from Stockley Park, not current match officials.

The ex-head of Professional Game Match Officials Limited insisted video assistant referees were being used too much after another weekend where contentious decisions were aplenty in the top flight.

An 83rd penalty in this season's Premier League was awarded on Sunday, the same amount for the whole of the 2014-15 campaign, with technology required during the majority of games across the weekend.

Referee Stuart Attwell awarded the 83rd penalty in this season's Premier League during Arsenal's win over Leeds
Referee Stuart Attwell awarded the 83rd penalty in this season's Premier League during Arsenal's win over Leeds (Catherine Ivill/PA)

"VAR is only supposed to get involved when it is a clear and obvious error," Hackett told the PA news agency.

"At the moment VAR is trying to get involved in everything. I think there needs to be a rethink of how VAR operates.

"I don't think it is great you are a referee one day and that same referee who had a good game or whatever game he had, then has to drive to Stockley Park to act as a VAR operator."

Michael Oliver took charge of Crystal Palace's home game with Burnley on Saturday and two days later was at Stockley Park to operate VAR for West Ham versus Sheffield United, while Martin Atkinson was asked to operate VAR in two fixtures this weekend instead of being out in the middle.

Referee Craig Pawson consults the pitchside VAR monitor
Referee Craig Pawson consults the pitchside VAR monitor (Nick Potts/PA)

Hackett feels "specialists" being required for VAR would improve the way the technology is implemented in this country.

"If you are Michael Oliver or Anthony Taylor, you want them refereeing. You don't want them doing VAR or the fourth official role," he added.

"A referee is a specialist, an assistant referee is a specialist and they train. We have them running with flags, off the field of play, away from the game, practising and understanding the laws of the game and everything that goes with it.

"Each one is a different specialist role and this is how if I think we are to move forward, we need to operate VAR in the same way.

"The panel of VAR specialists, as I would call them, could be made up of former referees and that is their sole job.

"If you have people like Mike Dean and Andre Marriner, people who are on the horizon of retiring, train them up to be VAR specialists.

"The answer has to be this specialist panel who are trained, better trained than the current people, and understand the technology and they can train and analyse the film clips in front of them more quickly."

Hackett, who was referee for the 1981 FA Cup Final, pointed to the tricky situation that may arise if a younger referee told a more senior colleague to review an incident and vice versa.

Keith Hackett was a referee during the first two seasons of the Premier League
Keith Hackett was a referee during the first two seasons of the Premier League (PA)

With more penalty kicks set to be awarded in this season's Premier League than during the last decade, the once FIFA listed match official questioned if some had taken their eye off the ball.

"I think referees are becoming lazy," Hackett said.

"There is an analogy that Nigel Owens uses regarding TMO when explaining his career. He makes the reference that if you have no safety net, you're as sharp as a pin and really focused on the game and in the game.

"But when you have a safety net like TMO or VAR, then you become lazy. I think that is what is happening.

"They need to be as sharp as a pin, up with play and to operate successfully. Success will be VAR has not interfered with the game at all."

The PA news agency have approached PGMOL for a comment.

ID:435401: cacheID:435401:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9913:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Gianni Infantino pictured on February 27, 2019
Read Next:
Gianni Infantino denies claims saying he told female referees to ignore delegate
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Result
Blanch
Nadal
1 0
6 6
Result
Cachin
Ofner
6 6
3 3
Result
Elahi Galan
Bautista-Agut
64 6 1
77 4 6
Result
Gasquet
Sonego
2 5
6 7
Result
Hanfmann
Mensik
4 63
6 77
Result
Koepfer
Carballes Baena
1 6 65
6 3 77
Result
Kovacevic
Medjedovic
6 5 4
3 7 6
Result
Lajovic
Monteiro
4 3
6 6
Result
Machac
Ruusuvuori
6 1 6
4 6 2
Result
Michelsen
Fonseca
6 0 2
4 6 6
Result
Nishioka
Auger-Aliassime
6 1 4
4 6 6
Result
O'Connell
Arnaldi
4 1
6 6
Result
Purcell
Giron
4 6 77
6 4 62
Result
Ramos-Vinolas
Kotov
3 4
6 6
Result
Tabilo
Cobolli
7 4 4
5 6 6
Result
Zhizhen
Kecmanovic
3 2
6 6
Result
Azarenka
Maria
6 6
3 1
Result
Eala
Cirstea
3 78 4
6 66 6
Result
Annie Fernandez
Potapova
7 6
5 3
Result
Gauff
Rus
6 6
0 0
Result
Keys
Camelia-Begu
77 78
63 66
Result
Podoroska
Navarro
2 1
6 6
Result
Karolina Schmiedlova
Jabeur
4 7 3
6 5 6
Result
Swiatek
Wang
6 6
1 4
Result
Sorribes Tormo
Svitolina
6 7
3 5
Result
Vekic
Sakkari
3 2
6 6
Result
Arango
Yastremska
6 5 4
0 7 6
Result
Osaka
Samsonova
2 6 5
6 4 7
Result
Ostapenko
Bouzas Maneiro
6 6
3 1
Result
Haddad Maia
Errani
6 6
3 2
Result
Lourdes Carle
Kudermetova
6 6
4 4
Result
Mertens
Stephens
6 3 1
3 6 6
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool34228475344174
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!