Exclusive: PGMOL insider slams ‘wrong’ VAR appointments for Newcastle v Ipswich
Keith Hackett has hit out over the identity of the VAR officials for the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Ipswich Town.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the roles should not have gone to two officials with no experience in the top-flight.
While Michael Salisbury was the on-field referee for Saturday’s (26 April) meeting at St James’ Park, James Bell was in charge of VAR, with Mat Wilkes as his assistant.
Both Bell and Wilkes are regular Championship officials, but have not previously taken charge of a Premier League game, prior to stepping in on VAR as Newcastle hosted Ipswich.
Newcastle vs Ipswich VAR checks prove controversial
Early on in the game, Newcastle had a goal wrongly ruled out for a foul on Alex Palmer in the Ipswich goal by Salisbury, with VAR choosing not to intervene to overturn the decision.
Later in the first half, VAR was deemed to have needlessly checked a clash between Joe Willock and Sam Morsy for violent conduct.
There was another contentious moment involving the video officials to come in first half stoppage time, as the hosts took the lead from the penalty spot.
| Newcastle last five games | Result |
| Leicester (A) | Won 3-0 |
| Man United (H) | Won 4-1 |
| Crystal Palace (H) | Won 5-0 |
| Aston Villa (A) | Lost 4-1 |
| Ipswich (H) | Won 3-0 |
That came after Newcastle were fortunate to be given the spot kick by VAR, for a pull on Jacob Murphy by Julio Enciso.
Now, Hackett has questioned the decision to put an official in the form of Bell, who has not previously worked in the Premier League, in charge of VAR for this game.
Keith Hackett hits out over VAR appointments
Speaking to Football Insider about Bell’s appointment of Bell as VAR for Newcastle vs Ipswich, the former referee said:
“I do not agree with the premise that a referee or someone in officiating that’s not refereed in the Premier League should be sat at the VAR seat.
“If that individual an assistant referee in the Premier League, I still wouldn’t want them to sit in the VAR seat.
“This is about balance, this is about credibility, it’s about experience, whilst James Bell is a competent Championship referee, very studious and understands the law...
“This is the first time I’ve seen James Bell sat in the VAR chair. There’s Matt Donohue who also sits in that chair and is not a Premier League referee.
“Yes it’s down to training, yes it’s down to preparation and there is an argument that you can actually train someone.
“But I think just to pull them out of the Championship and say ‘right you’re sitting in the VAR room’…
“Give them a Premier League game, or a five or six Premier League games, a run of them, and say ‘right ok, now we can use you’.
“I think the premise that you’re going to pull somebody out the Championship to sit in the VAR chair is the wrong approach.”