J.J. Watt ‘might be in trouble with FA’ after post-Burnley vs Brentford comments
Burnley investor J.J. Watt looks set to land himself in hot water with the Football Association.
The Clarets fell to a 4-3 defeat on Saturday as a 93rd-minute strike from Mikkel Damsgaard proved to be the difference.
After coming back from 3-0 down to 3-3, it looked as if Scott Parker’s side had snatched a point in a 4-4 draw when Ashley Barnes found the net.
Eventually, VAR opted to rule out the 36-year-old’s strike for handball, in a decision that hasn’t gone down well with Watt on social media.
He took to X after the full-time whistle at Turf Moor to say: “If it takes 10 minutes, it’s not clear and obvious.”
Keith Hackett moots FA trouble for J.J Watt – but what he’s said is true
The thoughts of the ex-NFL star will likely resonate with a large number of Premier League fans who are fed up with the state of officiating right now.
Even if that is the case, the Burnley shareholder shouldn’t really be venting those frustrations without expecting some sort of repercussions.
His comments shouldn’t come as a surprise based on the decision at Turf Moor, which took a long time to make and plenty of slow-motion replays.
That frustration has been echoed by former FIFA referee Keith Hackett, who feels for Watt but believes he could find himself under scrutiny from The FA.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett said: “Frankly, I welcome his comments because fans around the country are unhappy with the decision involving VAR taking too long.
“Sadly, these delays are impacting the flow of the game and the entertainment value.
“Whilst Mr Watt might be in trouble with the FA for these comments, I would point out that Burnley is a shareholder of the Premier League.
“The board of the Premier League meet on a regular basis. I would suggest that the meeting is an opportunity to raise these concerns.
“Let’s face it, if it takes 10 minutes to make a decision, for me it is not football as we know it.”
Premier League release statement after Burnley disallowed goal vs Brentford
The frustration could be felt all around Turf Moor as the decision took a lifetime to make before referee Sam Barrott addressed supporters.
He explained the decision, saying: “After review, Burnley 35 accidentally handles the ball. That leads to a direct goal. My final decision will be a defensive free-kick to Brentford.”
That was echoed by a statement from the Premier League, who added: “After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of a goal to Burnley.”
Burnley will be annoyed, and Watt certainly is, but in the end, the correct call was made, even if it goes against the way many people want the game to be played.