VAR ruins football & must be ditched, says 1966 World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst – so would it have ruled out THAT goal?
VAR is ruining football and must go, according to Sir Geoff Hurst, scorer of the most controversial goal in history.
But England’s 1966 World Cup hat-trick hero says goal-line technology, which may have ruled out his second strike, should stay.
The 82-year-old insisted he is a fan of modern tech but called VAR a “joke” that delays the game and stops fans from properly celebrating a goal.
He said: “They are making more bad decisions now and you don’t want to see people take ages to make a decision.
“It’s ruining the spectacle, and the fans can’t cheer.
“It’s actually spoiling the game.”
Debate still rages over whether Sir Geoff’s second goal against West Germany in the 1966 World Cup Final at Wembley did actually cross the line.
And 44 years later he was in South Africa to witness Frank Lampard’s 2010 World Cup goal against the Germans being famously ruled out, despite being well over the line.
Sir Geoff recalled: “I was the opposite side to the linesman and I could see the ball bounce halfway between the goal-line and the back of the net.
“That was the most disgraceful decision we’ve seen in football and then they introduced goal-line technology.”
He predicts big things for Gareth Southgate’s boys at the Euros next month — especially Jude Bellingham.
He said: “The bunch of young players are the best we’ve had since 1966.
“We’ve got quality players in all positions and his biggest issue is he can only pick 11 of them.
“If you have to pick one player out, I would say Jude Bellingham.
“He is doing astonishingly well for a 20-year-old.
“He is in the same category as people like George Best and Bobby Charlton.”
Sir Geoff revealed he uses his iPad to watch Match of the Day on BBC iPlayer — but skips the post-match analysis.
He said: “I think they spend too much time on punditry, which is just one person’s opinion.
“There are some awful commentators who don’t know what to say and so they just waffle on.”
The football legend — the last survivor from the 1966 triumph — is now encouraging other older folk to learn digital skills to improve their quality of life.
Sir Geoff, who teamed up with BT and AbilityNet, said: “I do internet banking and use the Trainline app to buy tickets.
“I use technology to keep up with family, to send photos and we have a WhatsApp group called Family Bantz.
“But if I’ve got an issue with something, I go to my children or grand-children — it’s as simple as that.
“And if I get something that could be a scam I bin it.”