Football legend Wayne Rooney has once again delivered a sharp critique of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. The former England captain and Manchester United icon has called on football authorities to eliminate VAR after another controversial incident unfolded in the Premier League over the weekend.
Rooney argued that VAR is damaging the essence of the game and fails to provide consistency in decision-making, sparking frustration among players, managers, and fans alike.
Controversy at Anfield
The 16-year Premier League veteran, who scored over 200 goals at the top level in England, described VAR as “terrible” following the contentious events during Manchester City’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool.
What began as a fiercely contested match soon turned into a debate over officiating when Rayan Cherki’s spectacular goal from inside his own half was disallowed during injury time.
The ball was destined for the net, regardless of whether Erling Haaland had touched it or not. Yet, VAR intervened, not only canceling Cherki’s goal but also recommending a red card for Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.
Szoboszlai was penalized for an alleged foul on Haaland during the sequence that led to the goal. The referee deemed it a denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity (DOGSO), resulting in Szoboszlai’s sending off even though the goal would have crossed the empty line moments later.
While the decision was technically correct according to the rules, many observers criticized its logic as lacking common sense. Both Haaland and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola publicly questioned the ruling after the match.
Rooney Calls for VAR Removal
For Rooney, the Anfield incident underscored why football might be better off without VAR.
“Yes, in the end it was technically the correct decision, but it is extremely frustrating. Once you look at the rules, you understand why the decision was made, but it removes all the passion from the game,” Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.
“I think I’d rather have no VAR because, in my opinion, VAR is really bad,” he continued.
“VAR is supposed to make the right calls, of course. But when VAR makes a big mistake, and it does happen sometimes, it undermines the whole process. Even in this case, it was correct, but VAR needs to get it right far more consistently than it does now,” Rooney added.
The former striker also highlighted the wider implications of such decisions on title races. “I’ve lost a Premier League title before on goal difference, so goals being disallowed like that can make a huge difference. That was a brilliant moment, and it was clearly taken away from us,” he said.
Players’ Reactions
From the player perspective, Haaland shared his own confusion following the Anfield clash. The Norwegian striker acknowledged that the referee was simply following the rules, but he also felt that the outcome penalized the wrong people.
“For me, the referee has to follow the rules, but this means Szoboszlai is suspended,” Haaland explained.
“Ultimately, I feel sorry for him because he’s the one who gets punished. Just give the goal, don’t give the red card, it’s that simple. But that’s the rule, so that’s how it is,” he added.
Haaland later joked about the sequence: “Actually, Cherki was just passing the ball to me so I could score, but he didn’t want me to score, so that’s how it went!”
Pep Guardiola’s Take
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola echoed similar frustrations, criticizing the decision for defying common sense.
“Common sense, right?” Guardiola remarked. “We won the match, but now Szoboszlai cannot play. I know he tugged him, but how many tugs happen in a match and the referee says ‘play on, play on, play on’?”
“In this league, it’s always like that. Just give the goal, make it 3-1, Szoboszlai plays the next game, and everyone’s happy,” Guardiola said.
VAR and Modern Football
The controversy reignited a broader debate over VAR’s role in modern football, weighing rule accuracy against fairness and the emotional essence of the sport. Critics argue that while VAR improves technical correctness, it often disrupts the natural flow of the game and diminishes the passion that defines football.
For Rooney, Haaland, and Guardiola, the Anfield incident serves as yet another example of how VAR, despite its intentions, can spark confusion, frustration, and debate at the highest level of the Premier League.
As discussions continue across media outlets, football authorities face mounting pressure to reassess VAR’s implementation. The challenge lies in striking a balance between maintaining rule-based accuracy and preserving the spontaneity and excitement that fans and players cherish.
Whether football will heed the calls from legends like Wayne Rooney remains to be seen, but the debate over VAR is far from over.
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