MX23RW : Wednesday, June 12 17:30:13| >> :600:152587558:152587558:

Danny Murphy calls for VAR axe

Danny Murphy calls for VAR axe
© Reuters
Former referee Dermot Gallagher supported the technology after three decisions were overtuned on the Premier League's opening weekend.

Former England midfielder Danny Murphy says VAR is ruining football as a spectacle and wants it scrapped.

The Premier League welcomed the Video Assistant Referee system on its opening weekend, with the new technology providing several talking points.

Three decisions were overturned in the 10 matches, with Manchester City and Wolves each having a goal disallowed by VAR.

  • PA understands around 70 incidents were checked by VAR across the opening weekend's fixtures.
  • That compares to an average of around eight checks per game during trial matches and in competitions already using VAR.
  • Three decisions were overturned, leading to disallowed goals for Manchester City and Wolves and the re-taking of City's penalty.

City's luck later evened out at West Ham as Sergio Aguero's saved penalty was retaken, because Declan Rice had encroached into the area and then cleared the ball.

"Something doesn't feel right at the moment when we're watching football," Murphy told TalkSPORT.

"I know the majority of what VAR did at the weekend was good – corrected some decisions that would not have been – but if you gave me the choice I'd knock VAR on the head."

Murphy was highly critical of City's goal being disallowed in their 5-0 win at West Ham through the tightest of offside calls.

VAR adjudged Raheem Sterling to be offside by just a matter of millimetres before setting up Gabriel Jesus for a simple tap-in.

"Do we really want to see goals disallowed for an offside that's an armpit ahead of another armpit by four millimetres?" Murphy said.

"He might be offside by four millimetres by the letter of the law. But it's an entertainment business, isn't it?

"And the Sterling goal that was allowed, there was muted celebrations.

"You could see he was thinking 'Is this going to get taken away?' and the Man City fans were clapping. It was like applause at the end of the ballet!

"I went to the (VAR) conference and it was helpful. I like the fact that they are really going to set the bar high in terms of overturning anything unless it's a really bad decision.

"I like that mindset because that's what helped the World Cup run smoothly in Russia and I understand where they are coming from.

"But it's creating too many areas of chat, and I'd rather be talking about tactics and players."

Manchester United v Chelsea – Premier League – Old Trafford
VAR confirms the award of a penalty in the Manchester United-Chelsea game at Old Trafford (Martin Rickett/PA)

PA understands there were around 70 VAR checks on the Premier League's opening weekend, compared to an average of around eight per game during trial matches and in other competitions already using VAR.

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher felt VAR had proved its value and insisted the system's operation will become smoother during the course of the season.

"You have to remember it's day one, Gallagher told Sky Sports.

Burnley v Southampton – Premier League – Turf Moor
VAR checks Burnley striker Chris Wood's disallowed goal against Southampton (Martin Rickett/PA)

"It will get quicker and slicker, because on the first day no VAR wanted to be in a position where it was rushed and he made a mistake.

"So I can understand them taking a few extra seconds on the opening day.

"As it goes on week by week, the operators will get things to them a lot quicker and it will get a lot slicker."

Soccer – FA Barclays Premiership – Manchester United v Birmingham City – Old Trafford
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher says VAR showed its worth on the opening weekend of Premier League fixtures (Phil Noble/PA)

Gallagher also dismissed claims that Jesus' goal at the London Stadium should have stood because the call was so marginal.

"I don't think however good an assistant referee is he would spot those," he said. "It just shows how effective VAR is and that's what people ask for.

"They ask for factual evidence and the factual evidence is there for everyone to see. If a ball's over the line by a yard it's a goal, it's the same if it's over the line by a millimetre.

"That's a defining line and offside is exactly the same. I don't see any difference."

ID:367892: cacheID:367892:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9431:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Cesar Azpilicueta reacts to a missed chance during the game between Fulham and Chelsea on March 3, 2019
Read Next:
Monday's La Liga transfer talk: Neymar, Modric, Valverde
>
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Friday, June 14
 
8pm
Saturday, June 15
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Sunday, June 16
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Monday, June 17
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, June 18
 
5pm
Wednesday, June 19
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Thursday, June 20
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Group Stage
Spain
vs.
Italy
Friday, June 21
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Saturday, June 22
 
5pm
 
8pm
Sunday, June 23
 
8pm
 
8pm
Monday, June 24
 
8pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, June 25
 
5pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
 
8pm
Wednesday, June 26
 
5pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
 
8pm
Saturday, June 29
Sunday, June 30
Monday, July 1
Tuesday, July 2
Friday, July 5
Saturday, July 6
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Germany Germany00000
2 Hungary Hungary00000
3 Scotland flag Scotland00000
4 Switzerland Switzerland00000

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Albania national flag Albania00000
2 Croatia Croatia00000
3 Italy Italy00000
4 Spain Spain00000

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Denmark Denmark00000
2 England flag England00000
3 Serbia Serbia00000
4 Slovenia Slovenia00000

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Austria Austria00000
2 France France00000
3 Netherlands Netherlands00000
4 Poland Poland00000

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Belgium Belgium00000
2 Romania Romania00000
3 Slovakia Slovakia00000
4 Ukraine Ukraine00000

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Czech Republic Czech Republic00000
2 Georgia Georgia00000
3 Portugal Portugal00000
4 Turkey Turkey00000


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!