Premier League boss breaks ranks to demand VAR removal after controversial call

28 August 2023 , 10:08

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Paul Heckingbottom has hit out at VAR (Image: Getty Images)

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom has called for VAR to only be used for offside decisions following his side's 2-1 defeat to Manchester City.

Heckingbottom said Premier League managers are not happy with the lack of consistency in VAR decisions this season as he hit out at the "embarrassing" refereeing against City. The Blades looked on course to earn their first point of the season after Jayden Bogle scored an 85th minute equaliser.

However, Rodri ultimately earned City all three points with a late 88th minute winner and Heckingbottom was particularly incensed with the decision to award a penalty for a John Egan handball. Although Erling Haaland ultimately missed the spot kick, Heckingbottom fumed after the game: "Is there any point having VAR if the same decisions aren't given every week?

"I guess we want as little impact as possible from VAR but [if so] just get rid of it. We need a degree of consistency, especially on decisions that change games. A few years ago we had it, now we've not had it for a few years and we've got it again.

"It's changed every season – how it's going to be used, how it's going to be interpreted. It's changed again. If you speak to any of the guys we just want the same decisions to be given.

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"We're coaches, we want as much control as possible on our team so we need to know what the laws of the game are. We've had three games now and even in our games we've had decisions that are not consistent.

"I wasn't happy with the refereeing today, I'll be honest. For us to get our first free-kick in 56th minute is embarrassing. I have watched some decisions back, it's really poor." Heckingbottom's comments come after PGMOL were forced to defend the use of VAR after an explosive claim from former referee Mike Dean.

The Sheffield United boss branded the refereeing "embarrassing" in his side's 2-1 loss to Manchester City (Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

Dean recently quit his role as a VAR and admitted he decided not to correct an error during a game between Chelsea and Tottenham last season because the on-field referee, Anthony Taylor, was "a mate" and he did not want to cause him "any more grief".

The PGMOL hit back at Dean's comments, stating: "When VARs identify a clear and obvious error by the on-field team and match officials, they should intervene and recommend a review by the referee. We strongly refute any suggestions that VARs do not intervene, for whatever reason, when they have identified a clear and obvious error."

And Dean has since claimed his comments have been "blown out of context", adding on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday: "The word I've used is probably the wrong word. If I'd used colleague [instead of mate] it's a bit different. People think 'oh he's your best mate'. He's not my best mate, we're just mates on the day."

Matthew Cooper