Gary Lineker & Micah Richards slam 'unworkable' VAR after controversial penalty decision in Newcastle's defeat to Arsenal

VAR continues to be a source of frustration and controversy in the Premier League. Inconsistent decision-making and lengthy delays have led to calls for significant reform to improve the matchday experience for players, fans and pundits alike. They have only increased after the Gyokeres incident in the first half of Sunday's game, which saw the Swedish striker nip in to steal a loose ball, only to go down under contact from Pope. Play was then stopped for several minutes so that VAR could check Gillett's original decision, with replays showing that Pope did get a foot to the ball and Gyokeres went down too easily. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and his players were understandably furious when the penalty was overturned, though, given it was not a clear error from Gillett and they were made to wait far too long for a resolution.

Former England and Tottenham striker Lineker has called for a major change to the VAR system that would limit the long stoppages currently causing so many disruptions in the Premier League. "This is the problem with VAR. I sense it was probably not a penalty, he [Pope] did get a foot on the ball and Gyokeres threw himself in the air a little bit. But if it had been given and there hadn't been VAR, I don't think anyone would have complained. This is where VAR cannot win in its current format, it's unworkable," Lineker said on The Rest Is Football Podcast. "Referees, VAR, you don't know where the line is, one week it's a high bar, then it's a low bar. Was that a howler of a decision? No. Was it the right decision in the end? Probably. But you come to the point where all we want is the right decision, but they've always said this is not about re-refereeing the game, but that is re-refereeing the game. That's why they will get there in the end, but the only way out of this mire - because we're all sick of it, it's boring and you have to wait so long - is an appeal system. Maybe one per half and if it's held up, you keep your life, like in other sports. It's inevitable, otherwise our sport is not the same."

Ex-Manchester City defender Richards echoed Lineker's sentiments: "I think it's a foul. Within the rules, it's very hard to specify what is and isn't a foul, and that's why I have sympathy with the referees. It should have just been the ref's call. It's mindblowing to me. If you look at it in real time, it looks like a foul. And now we're making it an even bigger story because we're going into it and you hit the nail on the head. You should go into an appeal system. As simple as that."

The Premier League will likely review the Pope-Gyokeres incident, but significant changes to VAR are unlikely in the immediate future. However, pressure will continue to mount on the authorities to find a solution that addresses the widespread concerns about the system. 

Arteta and Arsenal will hope to avoid any more controversy when they welcome Olympiacos to the Emirates Stadium in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Newcastle are due back in European action on the same night away at Union Saint-Gilloise.