‘I hate it, hate it’ – Premier League official rages at VAR as referee says ‘we knew the monster that had been created’
REF Bobby Madley let rip at VAR, insisting its usage means football will never see another Sergio Aguero moment.
And Madley slammed Prem chiefs for creating a “monster” that is “ruining” the beautiful game.
The Wakefield-born whistler, 39, who takes charge of EFL games and is a fourth official for top-flight matches, raged: “Most fans weren’t clambering to get video technology.
“Players weren’t, referees weren’t, but the multi-million pound people running football had issues with refs getting things wrong.
“But we knew the monster that had been created — we knew what was coming.
“We’ve got to the stage where people go, ‘Sorry, we’re ruining football with this now’.”
There have been a string of controversies since the technology was introduced in 2019.
VAR Lee Mason was axed for failing to rule out a Brentford equaliser against title-chasing Arsenal in 2023 after “forgetting” to draw the offside lines.
Howard Webb’s ref body, the PGMOL, issued an apology to Liverpool when VAR wrongly ruled out a Luis Diaz goal in a 2-1 loss to Spurs the following season.
Aguero’s famous final-game, stoppage-time winner clinched Manchester City’s first title in 2012.
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But at the Cheltenham Science Festival, Madley added: “That Aguero moment, where the ref was blowing, nobody’s flagging, you are never going to see that again.
“Because everyone will panic as they check a potential offside 15 seconds ago. VAR takes that emotion away. I hate it, hate it.”
VAR: Imagine the future...
Martin Lipton’s pro VAR view
FAST forward 12 months to May 18, 2025.
After 89 minutes at Molineux, Wolves, needing to win their last game of the season to stay up, are beating Manchester United, who require a point for Champions League football.
A ball over the top sends Rasmus Hojlund racing away. The flag stays down. Hojlund scores. Wolves are relegated.
And on the way home, the dejected Wolves fans see the still image on their phones.
Hojlund was 2ft offside. No question. A shocker.
It means at least a year in the Championship, £100million income drop, a firesale of the squad. While United bank an extra £50m.
But it’s OK. Every one of those fans, plus smiling boss Gary O’Neil and the Wolves board, will line up to say: “No worries. It’s what we voted for. Rough with the smooth.”
Yes. And I’ve got a bridge to Ireland to sell you.