Ex-Premier League referee claims VAR should be ditched after Man City development – ‘it’s a disadvantage’
Keith Hackett has claimed VAR should not be used in the FA Cup until the semi-final stage with Premier League sides like Man City currently at “an advantage” in the competition.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed the current use of technology in the cup’s early rounds is an “error of judgement from the FA”.
Just eight of a possible 32 FA Cup third-round ties had the use of VAR over the weekend (6-9 January), with only Premier League stadia set up with the required infrastructure.
As seen in footage posted by the BBC Sport Twitter account (8 January), Man City profited from one of the major flashpoints – with Chelsea star Kai Havertz penalised for handball after VAR review.
Referee Robert Jones had initially missed the offence but it was flagged after a lengthy wait.
VAR is not used in the League Cup until the semi-final stage after EFL chiefs scrapped its use in early rounds at the start of the 2019-20 season.
Hackett told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “For me, this is an error of judgement from the FA.
“The competition starts all the way back in August. So for consistency and continuity, I think it has to operate without VAR until the semi-final stage.
“Then we know that a full system will be in operation at Wembley, and that would give credence.
“I think the fact that VAR is only in operation at some games is possibly giving an advantage, or a disadvantage, to some teams.
“The big one at the weekend was in the Chesterfield-West Brom game, where the attacker used a deliberate elbow as a weapon – and it was missed.
“Had VAR operated, it would’ve been a red card. That player then goes on and scores the winning goal.
“We can’t afford to have VAR in every game, so let’s put up with those situations until we get to the semi-finals.”
In other news, pundit suggests Kalvin Phillips is quitting Man City this summer after source’s reveal.