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Mark Clattenburg says Premier League should scrap using VAR for offside calls


Mark Clattenburg believes the Premier League should stop using VAR to make rulings on offside calls after another weekend of controversy.

The video assistant referee has been one of the main talking points in England’s top flight for much of the season and it took centre stage once again during Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Wolves on Sunday.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were already unhappy that Sadio Mane’s opener was allowed to stand after an on-field handball decision against Adam Lallana was overturned, and the visitors were further incensed when they were denied an equaliser moments later.

Pedro Neto thought he had pulled his side level with a low strike into the bottom corner, only for VAR to judge that Jonny had strayed marginally offside in the build-up.

Mark Clattenburg believes VAR should not be used for offside decisions

Crystal Palace , Sheffield United, Brighton and Norwich also saw goals chalked-off over the weekend for tight offsides following video reviews, and Clattenburg believes that such decisions should be taken out of VAR’s hands.

“The excitement and spirit of the game is in danger of being damaged by the precise nature of the VAR technology when it comes to offside,” the former Premier League referee wrote in a column for The Daily Mail .

“So why not go back to assistant referees flagging for offside and we stick to their decision?”

After watching Neto’s strike cancelled out at Anfield, Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness suggested that the offside rule should be changed to remove any uncertainty surrounding VAR calls.

Wolves captain Conor Coady speaks to referee Anthony Taylor after Pedro Neto’s goal is ruled out

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However, Clattenburg does not think that such changes are needed, adding: “I do not believe in changing the laws of offside.

“So either we accept that offside is a matter of fact — which it is — and learn to live with the small margins, or we make it the call of the officials on the pitch and accept that mistakes will happen.

“The latter would remove the debate over the ‘armpit’ offside and also allow players and fans to celebrate goals more freely without the fear of a marginal offside ruling it out.

“What we cannot have is a ‘margin for error’ with offside – how far would you go?”





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