'Killing the game!' Legendary referee blasts VAR as Premier League mistakes mount for Chelsea

Gabrielle Wilde

By Gabrielle Wilde


Published: 23/01/2026

- 18:10

Legendary referee Keith Hackett warned the technology is still 'interfering with the flow of games'

Chelsea have emerged as the biggest beneficiaries of VAR errors this Premier League season, while Manchester United sit at the other end of the table, repeatedly on the wrong side of controversial decisions.

Legendary referee Keith Hackett warned the technology is still "interfering with the flow of games," calling for better training, specialist VAR operators, and clear accountability for mistakes.

He argued millimetre decisions and slow reviews are leaving fans unsure whether to celebrate goals and undermining referees’ authority on the pitch.

Mr Hackett insisted VAR should stay, but only if it improves over a set period; otherwise, it risks being a “waste of time” that fails to deliver the fairness it promised.

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