Garth Crooks told Final Score on BBC One that it’s ‘worrying’ when ‘top-class’ players such as Leeds United’s Patrick Bamford and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah come out and criticise VAR.
On Friday, Bamford was once again involved in a pretty tight offside call, which resulted in his equalising goal being ruled out against Wolves.
After the game, the Leeds forward sarcastically came out and claimed on Twitter that VAR is making the game better’.
Former Spurs striker Crooks stated that he understands where the players are coming from, as he urged the rules to change.
“I have total sympathy,” said Crooks. “I hate what VAR is doing here. I think they should change the rule and make it the torso. You don’t score with your hand and Bamford said that.
“It’s very worrying when you have got top-class players saying ‘we don’t like it’.
“When Salah says ‘I don’t like it’. When Henderson says ‘it’s ruining the game’. The people who are making the rules need to seriously think about the game.”
VAR will, of course, get most of the stick because it’s the technology being used to make these decisions.
But in truth, it’s the officials and the rules which are the biggest problem.
Unless there is a change of significant kind in that depart during these six months, the same problems will rear their ugly head again next season.
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