Fresh controversy surrounding Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions in the Premier League has been underscored by a stark admission from a recently retired top-flight official.
"I don't know anyone who enjoys being a VAR"
Graham Scott, who ended his seven-year stint as a Premier League referee upon retiring at the close of the 2024/25 season, has provided a rare insight into the mindset of match officials. In an interview with The Athletic, Scott revealed a widespread lack of enthusiasm for the VAR role among his former colleagues.
"I don't know anyone who enjoys being a VAR, but people enjoy the challenge," Scott admitted. His comments come amid yet another weekend of high-profile disputes, with Nottingham Forest left furious following their 2-1 defeat to Manchester City.
The Pressure Cooker of Modern Officiating
Scott, who spent a decade in the Football League before reaching the Premier League, explained how the introduction of VAR has fundamentally altered a referee's job. The technology, introduced after a unanimous club vote in November 2018 and first used in the 2019/20 season, was designed to correct clear errors but has piled on immense pressure.
"You've probably spent 15 to 20 years to get to the Premier League... But now you've got to do it differently," he said. Scott highlighted the psychological shift, noting that while VAR often 'bails out' on-field referees, officials must instantly reset after being told they are wrong during a match.
He acknowledged that while adaptation has occurred, the initial adjustment was difficult. "When we first had VAR, a lot of referees struggled with being told they were wrong during a game. That's improved... we'd much rather be put right than find out after the match that we affected the outcome."
Forest Fury Highlights Unending Scrutiny
The immediate relevance of Scott's insights was demonstrated by events at the City Ground. Forest are reportedly considering a formal complaint to the PGMOL—the body that appoints and trains officials—after several key decisions went against them.
Manager Sean Dyche was scathing in his assessment, focusing on a potential foul on Morgan Gibbs-White and a possible red card for City's Ruben Dias that were not given following VAR reviews. "Such an easy game to referee, in my opinion, such an easy decision for VAR," Dyche stated. "When you played so well, to come in and have to talk about officials affecting the game – but they clearly did."
The current system employs six officials per match: the referee, two assistants, and a fourth official at the stadium, plus the VAR and assistant VAR based at the PGMOL's Stockley Park headquarters. Despite continuous tweaks to the protocol, which covers goals, penalties, red cards, and mistaken identity, the division and frustration it causes show no sign of abating.
