VAR - What the managers have said in the 2023/24 Season - Wolves are not alone!
With our club proposing the scrapping of VAR, it was interesting how quickly the Premier League, and some clubs, closed ranks to suggest that VAR was ‘here to stay’ despite the overwhelming dissatisfaction of supporters, managers, and players. We have collated some of the quotes made by managers over the course of last season.
Last season every Premier League club manager has criticised VAR and officiating.
What the managers have said…
AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has slammed VAR officials for two mistakes either side of half time which cost his team against Arsenal. The Gunners took the lead on the stroke of halftime after referee David Coote awarded a penalty for a foul on Kai Havertz.
"For me, Kai Havertz is the one trying to find the contact (that isn’t there). At the last moment, he finds the contact and he’s not going to(wards) goal to score a goal.
"I think with the VAR, probably if you asked the person on the VAR they’d say, 'It’s not a penalty'. Probably they are thinking. 'There is contact, so I can’t overturn it'."
On the disallowed Semenyo goal, he added: "For me, it’s a penalty for Philip Billing or it’s a goal, you cannot go another way.
"I was, 'Thinking OK, they are taking their time because they are deciding if it’s a penalty for Billing or they are just leaving the goal'. But I don’t understand the decision. But I want to repeat — they (Arsenal) deserved to win.
"I think in two or three days, in their (PGMOL) report they will say, “The panel has said it was not a penalty, it was a goal”. That doesn’t matter."
4th May 2024
Arsenal
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta called the video assistant referee's decision to allow Newcastle's goal in their 1-0 win "embarrassing" and a "disgrace";
“Embarrassing, it’s an absolute disgrace, that’s what it is: a disgrace,” Arteta said. “There’s so much at stake, we’ve put in so many hours to compete at the highest level and you cannot imagine the amount of messages we’ve had saying this cannot continue. It’s embarrassing.“It’s not acceptable, there’s too much at stake. I don’t want to be in the hands of these people. I don’t know how to feel. I’m wasting my time, we are wasting our time. It’s difficult enough to compete against Newcastle – they are a really good team, but we have to talk about how the hell this goal stood. It’s an absolute disgrace it was allowed. For more than one reason it should not be a goal.
“I have been in this country more than 20 years and [the officiating] is nowhere near the level of the best league in the world. I feel sick to be part of this. I feel sick. It’s not a goal, it’s not a goal.”
4th November 2023
Aston Villa
Unai Emery felt VAR was guilty of getting too involved after Villa were held to a 1-1 draw by Sheffield United and missed the chance to go top of the Premier League. He explained: "It was not the correct decision but I always accept the VAR. I think today VAR was too much and for the goal it was a second action. We recovered the ball and then we score. It was not necessary to review this."
23rd December 2023
Brentford
"Brentford manager Thomas Frank is "so tired of talking about" VAR after further controversies at the City Ground on Sunday afternoon.
He expressed his dismay at having to talk about VAR once more, and said the foul on Wissa was a "clear penalty" but the two for handball - against Nicolas Dominguez and Willy Boly - could have gone either way. "I know it's the talk of the town at this moment in time, the VAR. I'm just so tired of talking about it. I much more want to talk about football, but I understand we need to do it.
"I also feel the pain and frustration when it doesn't go your way. I can't affect it, I can't do anything about it. I need to focus on what I can affect."
1st October 2023
Brighton & Hove Albion
After the game, De Zerbi told reporters: "I am honest and clear, I don't like 80 per cent of English referees. I don't like their behaviour on the pitch." When pressed further, he added: "England is the only country where, when there is VAR, you are not sure the decision is right. In other countries you have to be sure the referee is 100 per cent right. In England no, I'm not able to understand (that)."
12th November 2023
Burnley
Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Burnley boss Kompany felt let down by the decision and questioned the consistency of the referees and VAR across the course of the season.
“I don’t get it any more, if we get a foul against us that is given as a penalty as soft as it did against Aston Villa, then what is this here?” he questioned, reflecting on a controversial last-minute penalty given against the Clarets in a 3-2 defeat at Villa Park.
“There is a clear attempt to stop the goalkeeper getting up. The referee has got to get it right.”
On whether he expected VAR to intervene with more authority, Kompany said: “First, I expect the referee to see it. It was that obvious.
“None of the Luton players have celebrated, nobody. The first look from the striker, which is normal - and nothing against him because he is doing his job - but the first look of this striker is to Trafford and then to the referee to see if he got away with it.’’
“Luckily we’ve got VAR, we think ‘okay, that’s going to sort it out’, and then it rolls, it rolls, it rolls, lack of decision and that’s it, Burnley are 1-1.
13th Januray 2024
Chelsea
“Everyone that was watching the game will feel disappointed,” Pochettino told TNT Sports. “Two different things the referee said it was a foul and disallowed the goal and then going to the VAR to confirm’’.
“The referee is unbelievable and it’s ridiculous. It is difficult to accept, these type of things in the semi-final two weeks ago it was handball and it was no penalty, the referee he didn’t check it.
“It is painful as it has damaged English football and I think Villa players and their fans didn’t understand why the goal was disallowed.’’
“They said it was foul and if you see the challenge what happened if we go into every single challenge like this it is going to be a foul and we wouldn’t finish the game with 11 (players). We can talk about the performance or the decision — it is damaging the game. I am calm and it is only to help. Now, we have to move on and it will be in the headlines with the disallowed goal.”
28th April 2024
Crystal Palace
Ex-Palace boss Hodgson said: “I’m tempted to say: ‘What’s the point?’ You have to accept there are two referees in every game and every time something happens on the field of play, the referee makes the decision, you still have to wait a few minutes to see if the other referee has seen something different.''
“It happens. People will discuss was it or wasn’t it? People are taking away the decisions – trashing if you like – the decisions made by the guy on the field and handing it over to someone in front of a TV screen.
28th December 2023
Everton
Everton manager Sean Dyche criticised VAR's use of "slow-mo" when reviewing a decision that resulted in a red card for Toffees striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the goalless FA Cup third-round tie at Crystal Palace.
Nathaniel Clyne went down wincing following a sliding tackle by Calvert-Lewin, who appeared to catch the Palace defender’s shin with his studs.
Referee Chris Kavanagh went to review the incident on the pitchside monitor and decided the contact was enough to dismiss the Everton striker, the first red card of his career.
Dyche, though, was again unimpressed by the VAR intervention.I think slow-mo shows a different picture,” he told ITV Sport.
“If you are going to slow-mo things, then you are going to have to slow-mo the penalty on Beto or what could have been a penalty.
“[Joachim] Andersen has got his arms clearly around him, cupping his body. He goes down and it is not given.
“So if you want to slow-mo everything, then you have got to slow-mo everything – you can’t just have it one for one and one for the other.
“At the end of it is minor contact. In live time, he doesn’t give everything, then you slow it down – and everything looks worse on slow-mo, we all know that.”
5th January 2024
Fulham
An unhappy Marco Silva criticised the VAR official, Tony Harrington, by claiming that anyone who has played football would be “100% sure” to disallow Manchester City’s controversial second goal in Fulham’s 5-1 defeat at the champions.
Erling Haaland, who scored a second-half hat-trick, admitted he would be “fuming” in the Cottagers’ place.
Silva said: “Everyone that has played football, who has some knowledge of football, knows 100% sure to disallow that goal. For the [assistant referee] it can be difficult to see an offside position, but for VAR it is impossible not to disallow that goal’’.
That moment had a huge impact on the game.” Haaland added: “I think it was offside as well – I feel bad for them. I’d be fuming if I was them.”
2nd September 2023
Liverpool
Ex Liverpool Manager Jürgen Klopp criticised VAR official David Coote after Liverpool's 1-1 draw against Arsenal at Anfield, saying a "guy in an office" should have awarded a penalty following a Martin Odegaard handball during the first half. "Yes I have seen it," Klopp said. "I am pretty sure someone will come to explain it to me why it was not a handball but I don't know how? "I don't say that the ref can see it because I don't know where he was in that moment.
"But how can a guy in an office see that and not come to the conclusion that maybe, possibly it could be worth the referee having another look?"
23rd December 2023
Luton Town
Luton boss Rob Edwards takes aim at more poor VAR decisions and even admits his side's penalty in their defeat to Sheffield United should not have stood. ‘Neither were penalties, ours or theirs. I don’t know what a penalty is any more. It’s a little bit strange, once they had theirs we appealed for ours, it’s not the referee’s fault, he was told to go and look at it.’
12th February 24
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola has said the continuing confusion over VAR decisions makes it very difficult for managers to control their feelings after the game. The Manchester City manager was talking after the officiating at the Newcastle v Arsenal game caused controversy, Anthony Gordon’s goal allowed to stand despite a triple VAR check. He also suggested the implementation of VAR in the Champions League varies from that in England. “It is different, the handball is different, a few things.”
Guardiola refused to blame the officials for the confusion, however, saying he has sympathy for them. It’s a sensitive issue. It’s difficult for the referees, too. I don’t know where I am in that position right now.”
6th November 2023
Manchester United
Ten Hag "I think when you freeze it, it looks always so [much] worse. And as I say, it takes them so long and they make a red card of it. I'm very disappointed about such decisions.
"I think the game is never meant to be like this. This has nothing to do with football. Decisions have to be made and I accept that there are also wrong decisions made. If I sum it up, then you make on this level three such tough decisions... you control the game, and I think the game is never meant to be for that.
"Football is a game of mistakes. I will not say that we did everything right, but I take a lot of positives. Even with 10 men we were dictating the game and we played very good. And so yeah, we are very disappointed that in the end that you take nothing from this, because it could have been different."
9th November 2023
Newcastle United
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, unsurprisingly, felt differently. "It looked a good goal to me," he said. "We're in the dark, we're stood by the side of the pitch seeing VAR on the screen but with no pictures. With every VAR check that was going on we thought one would cost us in the end."
4th November 2023
Nottingham Forest
Nuno Espirito Santo visibly surprised at VAR's lack of intervention. The Portuguese manager further criticized Maddison's loss of composure and expressed surprise at the resolution of the issue through what he described as "a nice chat" by the referee, Hooper.
“I saw the image. I was surprised that VAR didn’t tell Simon to review it better because honestly, with all my respect, Maddison loses his composure and it’s a punch in the stomach of Yates.”
“It should have been reviewed and [led to] a different decision, not to chat with the players and it looks like nothing happens.”
“We did not see it the same way. We didn’t agree, me and VAR. It’s clear for me, I think it’s a red card. I’m surprised Simon solved it with a nice chat.” 08/04/24
Sheffield Utd
Chris Wilder in 2019 “It (VAR) is becoming too difficult for everyone. I don’t think anyone knows where they are with it. The game has changed, it’s a new game. What we are having to deal with, we’re having to learn on the job.
“Every interview that I do post-game is VAR-based, the majority of the time it is. I’m drained with it, if I’m honest. We are learning a different game and I am a bit saddened by it.
Chris Wilder in 2023 “It’s every week and I don’t think anyone knows where we are with it with any decision. One week one is given then the next the same thing isn’t given. '' - Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder felt there were an excessive number of VAR interventions in the match, insisting it should be reserved for major moments.
22nd December 2023
Tottenham Hotspur
Ange Postecoglou "I think that's the way the game is going. I don't like it - I could be a lone voice as I'm told that's the way forward. With VAR intervention it just felt like a lot of standing around. At some point, we have to accept the referee's decision.
‘‘This constant erosion of referees' authority, this is what the game is going to get: they will not have any authority, it is going to get diminished and we are going to be in the control of someone a few miles away watching a TV screen’’.
"But I know that I'm in the wilderness on that. In my 26 years [as a manager], I was always ready to accept the referee's decision good, bad or otherwise. I've had some shockers in my career let me tell you, and I've had some go my way as well. But I'd cop that because I just wanted the game to be played’’.
‘‘But when we're complaining about decisions every week, this is what's going to happen. People are just going to forensically scrutinise everything to make sure they're comfortable it's right, and then even after that, we're still not happy.
"What does that mean? It means we're going to see a lot of standing around. I just think it's diminishing the authority of the referee.
"You can't tell me the referee is in control of games now - they're not. The control is outside of that, but that's the way the game is going and you have to accept that and try to deal with it."
7th November 2023
West Ham United
West Ham chief Moyes feels managers of clubs outside the traditional top six usually do not get listened to, and when they do they get hit in the pocket.
"My opinion doesn't really matter in what I say because you're just going to ask all the managers a similar question," said Moyes.
"We're all pretty disappointed with lots of aspects but we're also all very much in favour of trying to make it work.
"I just think we've all been disappointed with some of the officiating this season. My single opinion wouldn't matter a jot. They'll do what they need to do’’.
"When we're putting it over it's not getting much clout at the other end. You can ask us but we feel that we're not getting an awful lot back when we're giving it back to the officials or whoever.
"There have been a couple of big incidents that have been highlighted, but it's mainly at the top clubs.
"It's as if people don't think that some other clubs have the same problems, the same VAR problems, the same decision-making. It doesn't get the same highlight. We're all pretty disappointed by what we've been getting back’’.
"We don't want to do it because managers will be fined for speaking out of turn. Most managers don't want to say anything about it because we know we're locked down’’.
"If clubs or managers choose to have an outburst then that's their choice and they can choose to do that."
10th November 2023
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves manager Gary O'Neil has always been a fan of VAR but on Monday he joined the growing chorus of coaches complaining about the review system after his side had two penalties given against them in a 3-2 loss at Fulham.
"I've always been for VAR, but I think it's causing a big problem at the moment," O'Neil told reporters.
"The fact that the first one isn't deemed a clear and obvious error and the second one is, I just think VAR has cost us there’’.
"Maybe tonight has finally turned me against VAR when I thought it would help, but it doesn’t. The referee basically admitted they made a mistake with the Nelson one, but the one with Harry Wilson, we disagree a little bit.
"I'm managing a big football club here and the difference that you're making to my reputation, to the club's progression up the league, to people's livelihoods, it's huge," he added.
"It can't be like this with all the technology and all the time in the biggest league in the world that we're getting so many wrong. It can't be ok."
28th November 23
