Former Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney has issued a forceful plea to Premier League authorities, demanding the immediate removal of the Video Assistant Referee system from top-flight football. Rooney, a revered figure in the sport, described VAR as "terrible" and asserted that it is fundamentally damaging the essence of the game.
Rooney's Blunt Critique Following Controversial Clash
The football icon's comments come in direct response to a highly contentious incident during Manchester City's recent 2-1 victory over Liverpool. In the dying moments of a thrilling match, a spectacular long-range goal by Rayan Cherki was astonishingly disallowed after a VAR review.
The decision centered on a prior foul by Dominik Szoboszlai on Erling Haaland, which led to a free-kick being awarded against Liverpool instead. While technically correct under current regulations, the ruling sparked widespread bewilderment and frustration, stripping away a moment of pure sporting drama.
"It Takes Out All the Passion"
Speaking on his BBC programme, 'The Wayne Rooney Show', the ex-Everton striker elaborated on his deep-seated frustrations. "Yeah, it's definitely the right decision in the end, but it's obviously frustrating," Rooney stated. "Once you look at the rules, you understand why it's given, but it just takes out all the passion."
He continued with a stark assessment: "I think I'd prefer not to have VAR, because I think it's terrible. I think it gets good decisions, of course it does, but when it gets big decisions wrong... then I just think it's there to get decisions right. Ultimately, it needs to be doing that more than what it is, in my opinion."
A Personal Sting from Past Title Races
Rooney, who experienced the pinnacle and heartbreak of Premier League competition, framed his argument with poignant personal experience. "I've lost the Premier League title on goal difference," he recalled, highlighting the monumental impact a single disallowed goal can have on a season's outcome. "So that goal might make a big difference. It was a fun moment - and it's obviously been taken away from us."
His remarks underscore a growing sentiment among players, managers, and fans that while technology aims for accuracy, it often comes at the cost of football's spontaneous emotion and flow. The call to scrap VAR represents a significant intervention from one of the league's most decorated former players, adding considerable weight to the ongoing debate about technology's role in the sport.
