{"id":295426,"date":"2023-11-28T23:24:41","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T23:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/?p=295426"},"modified":"2023-11-28T23:24:41","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T23:24:41","slug":"anger-as-former-ref-keith-hackett-says-vars-must-feel-wrath-of-fans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/soccer\/anger-as-former-ref-keith-hackett-says-vars-must-feel-wrath-of-fans\/","title":{"rendered":"Anger as former ref Keith Hackett says VARs must 'feel wrath of fans'"},"content":{"rendered":"
Keith Hackett was accused of inviting abuse on his fellow match officials when the former boss of the refereeing body PGMOL suggested VARs should be in stadiums \u2018to take the wrath of the fans\u2019.<\/p>\n
Hackett\u2019s comments sparked anger and surprise among officiating circles, not least because he is a former referee.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 79-year-old Yorkshireman took aim at VAR Stuart Attwell for the controversies in Wolves\u2019 3-2 loss to Fulham as he said on talkSPORT: \u2018We\u2019ve got to recognise that Stuart Attwell \u2013 and I\u2019m sorry to name him \u2013 is not a good VAR. I doubt his capability as a referee. But let\u2019s move on and say if he\u2019s not a good VAR, don\u2019t appoint him to that role.\u2019<\/p>\n
Turning his attention to the PGMOL\u2019s plush new VAR hub at Stockley Park, Hackett added: \u2018It\u2019s no good spending a million quid on the wallpaper and making things comfortable. I think we need to get VAR operators at the ground so that they can take the wrath of the fans when they\u2019re walking out of the stadium at the end of the game when it\u2019s gone ape.\u2019<\/p>\n
Hackett’s suggestion comes after Mail Sport launched our campaign calling for less abuse aimed at referees, feeling it trickles down from the Premier League to the grassroots level where officials lack protection.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Keith\u00a0Hackett\u2019s comments sparked anger and surprise among officiating circles<\/p>\n
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Hackett\u00a0took aim at VAR Stuart Attwell for the controversies in Wolves\u2019 3-2 loss to Fulham<\/p>\n
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Mail Sport has launched a campaign to stop the abuse of referees to help boost the game<\/p>\n
The registered charity Ref Support UK have reacted angrily to the idea that VARs deserve to feel the \u2018wrath\u2019 from fans with chief executive Martin Cassidy saying: \u2018I have held the opinion for some time \u2013 that he is one of the main instigators for encouraging the abuse of match officials at PGMOL level and these comments further compound that opinion.<\/p>\n
\u2018His \u201creferees’ man\u201d persona is a sham and is used by fans to further perpetuate referee abuse. He should hang his head in shame as he continues his agenda against the PGMOL for letting him go as their \u201cboss\u201d when he wanted to stay.\u2019<\/p>\n
Hackett disputed the accusations against him and, when contacted for a response, told Mail Sport: \u2018I am not promoting the idea of fans having a go when poor decisions are made. I am making the point that the VAR is in a sanitised and detached building miles away from the game.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
On his own exit from the PGMOL, he added: \u2018Ref Support UK are incorrect in their observation about me personally. I retired from the PGMOL having reached retirement age. European age legislation was not in operation at that time. Mike Riley was appointed one year before I left the PGMOL in order to have a measured handover. I accepted a role with the Premier League and travelled many parts of the world delivering the Premier Skills Refereeing Project.’<\/p>\n
The PGMOL\u2019s current boss Howard Webb wants to implement VAR specialists to lessen the burden on officials who have to double up on weekends. This Saturday, Attwell will work as VAR for Burnley versus Sheffield United before refereeing Liverpool against Fulham on Sunday.<\/p>\n
We want to hear from refs who have been abused – or parents who have witnessed atrocious behaviour on the touchline<\/p>\n
Email us at:\u00a0IAKO@dailymail.co.uk<\/p>\n
It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n