“VAR has FAILED” – Ex-PGMOL Chief Keith Hackett Tears into Officials After Controversial Everton Decision
In a dramatic turn of events following Liverpool’s recent victory over Everton, former Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief Keith Hackett has launched a scathing attack on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. The match, which saw a contentious goal disallowed for offside in the build-up, has reignited the debate over the effectiveness and reliability of VAR in modern football.
Hackett, a respected figure in refereeing circles with decades of experience, didn’t hold back in his assessment. “It’s 100% wrong,” he declared, slamming the decision that overturned what could have been a pivotal moment in the Merseyside derby. The disallowed goal, ruled out after a lengthy VAR review, left Everton fans fuming and sparked widespread frustration among players, pundits, and supporters alike.
The incident in question occurred when Everton thought they had scored, only for VAR to intervene and flag an offside call in the build-up. Replays showed a tight decision, with the lines drawn by officials appearing to hinge on a matter of centimeters. For Hackett, however, the issue goes beyond the specifics of this one call. “VAR has failed,” he argued, pointing to what he sees as a broader breakdown in how the technology is being implemented. “The system was brought in to correct clear and obvious errors, not to dissect every moment with a microscope and still get it wrong.”
The controversy has once again exposed the fault lines in football’s relationship with VAR. Introduced to enhance accuracy and fairness, the technology has instead become a lightning rod for criticism, with many arguing it disrupts the flow of the game and fails to deliver consistent outcomes. Hackett’s outburst reflects a growing sentiment that the system, as it stands, is undermining the spirit of the sport rather than enhancing it.
For Everton, the decision was yet another bitter pill to swallow in a fiercely contested derby. The disallowed goal could have shifted the momentum in a match where every moment counts, and the sense of injustice was palpable among the Goodison Park faithful. Social media erupted with reactions, with fans and analysts questioning the precision and subjectivity of VAR’s offside rulings. Some pointed out that the technology’s reliance on frame-by-frame analysis often leads to decisions that feel detached from the real-time dynamics of play.
Hackett’s critique wasn’t just about the offside call itself but the broader implications for officiating. He argued that the current use of VAR places undue pressure on referees and fails to account for the human element that has always been part of football. “We’re losing the game’s soul,” he warned, suggesting that the obsession with perfection is stripping away the raw emotion and unpredictability that fans cherish.
This isn’t the first time Hackett has voiced concerns about VAR, but his latest comments carry extra weight given the high-profile nature of the fixture. Liverpool’s win keeps them in the hunt at the top of the Premier League table, while Everton are left licking their wounds, wondering what might have been. For neutrals, the incident serves as yet another chapter in the ongoing saga of VAR’s troubled integration into the English game.
As the dust settles, the question remains: can VAR be salvaged, or is it time for a radical rethink? Keith Hackett, for one, seems to believe the system is on life support. “It’s not working,” he concluded. “And until it does, we’ll keep seeing these failures.” For now, the debate rages on, with Everton’s disallowed goal the latest flashpoint in a controversy that shows no signs of fading away.
