England’s national team manager, Gareth Southgate, has voiced his disapproval of VAR, expressing a preference for relying on on-field referees’ decisions. Southgate, speaking ahead of England’s upcoming internationals against Italy and Australia, revealed his skepticism toward the technology, citing past instances of uncertainty, such as Jesse Lingard’s disallowed goal in the UEFA Nations League semi-final in 2019.
Southgate emphasized, “I don’t like it. I think we should just accept referees’ decisions, but I also know that we’re unlikely to go back to a world where we don’t have technology as part of that decision-making process.”
The VAR controversy escalated recently with the disallowed goal of Luis Diaz for Liverpool against Tottenham, leading to widespread criticism. Southgate’s remarks contribute to the ongoing debate surrounding the role of VAR in football, with calls for improvements and reconsideration of its impact on the game.
