Leeds United’s 1-0 win over Middlesbrough was marred by two disallowed goals, sparking frustration among fans and players. Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg described the scenario as “unforgivable,” highlighting the potential impact of officiating errors on the outcome of the game.
The controversy has reignited the debate about the use of VAR in the Championship and lower leagues. Simon Jordan, former Crystal Palace chairman, argues that implementing VAR throughout the Football League would be too costly for smaller clubs, and instead suggests improving the standards of refereeing.
Jordan believes that the focus should be on improving the competency of referees rather than relying on VAR to fix mistakes. He also notes that VAR is not a perfect solution, citing the Premier League as an example where mistakes still occur despite the technology being in place.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke suggested that the linesman who disallowed the two goals should not be allowed to officiate another Leeds fixture, but Jordan disagrees, arguing that this would set a dangerous precedent. Instead, Jordan believes that the EFL should focus on improving the standards of referees and assistant referees.
The debate highlights the challenges of implementing VAR in lower leagues, where costs can be prohibitive for smaller clubs. While VAR may not be a perfect solution, it is clear that something needs to be done to improve the accuracy and consistency of refereeing decisions in the Championship and lower leagues.
