‘Everybody hates VAR’ – NFL legend and Burnley co-owner JJ Watt calls on Premier League to fix ‘trash’ system

The introduction of technology into football was intended to make life easier for match officials and to ensure that more contentious decisions were removed from the game. That has not been the case thus far, with each round of fixtures seemingly bringing with it a fresh round of controversy.

Just about every club in the English top-flight has had a bone to pick with VAR and PGMOL at some point this season, with Burnley – who are scrapping to avoid suffering relegation back into the Championship – falling into that category.

Clarets board member Watt, who is now passionately invested in collective efforts at Turf Moor, had told The Pat McAfree Show of why change is needed: “Everybody hates VAR, that’s the problem. VAR has a chance to be successful, a chance to be good and a chance to be legitimate. But everybody hates it because it’s so subjective at the moment. We refuse to use the technology that the World Cup uses – which is very clear cut for offside. There is so much stuff that could be good about VAR, but right now it’s trash - it’s a problem, it’s costing people points and costing people enjoyment, taking away from the game. VAR at the moment is terrible and it needs to be fixed, that’s just a fact. The Premier League needs to fix it. VAR is a problem, get it fixed.”

Burnley are currently taking in their winter break, with the Clarets not due to be back in action until making a trip to reigning champions Manchester City on January 31. They also have Liverpool and Arsenal to face in their next four fixtures, with it possible that Watt will be heading back across the Atlantic for those games alongside his former USWNT star wife Kealia.