Town boss Kieran McKenna has admitted he’s no fan of VAR, while CEO and chairman Mark Ashton says referees chief Howard Webb will be hearing a lot more from him.

The Blues have been on the wrong end of a number of VAR calls since making their return to the Premier League in August, most recently the penalty for a foul on Jack Clarke which was overturned during the Everton match and the spot-kick which was harshly given against Harry Clarke at Brentford on Saturday, referee Lewis Smith having initially adjudged that the infringement had started outside the box. It’s difficult to recall any VAR decisions which have gone in Town’s favour.

“In my personal opinion, I’m not a fan,” McKenna told TownTV. “I think I was there for the first two seasons at [Manchester] United when it came in and then I had a few seasons at League One and Championship level without it.

“And, of course, now back having it, it’s a personal opinion I don’t think it adds to the game and preferred the years as a manager when I didn’t have it, knowing that sometimes things would go against you but that’s a personal opinion.

“I get the money involved at the top level at the sport now and the reason why it’s there to make sure that big errors can’t happen that can be so important from a sporting and a financial perspective.

“I understand it, but I’ve not enjoyed the process of it, I think as a club we’ve probably had three or four VAR interventions all that probably fall under the category of things that VAR probably shouldn’t get involved in and zero in the other direction.

“Obviously, from its help to our start to the season, I haven’t particularly enjoyed it. I know there are a lot of managers who come out and speak about it a lot, I’ve always vowed to myself I’m not going to speak about referees too much, I’m not going to hide behind that after a game and I certainly don’t want to spend the end of every game this season talking about VAR, so I’ll try and do it as minimally as possible.

“But also it’s something that I do know a lot of managers, a lot clubs speak about a lot and I am aware that we have to make sure that we get our fair dues.

“It is what it is, it doesn’t add to my experience of the job and I hope over the course of the season it doesn’t go as some people say when they say that clubs coming up get less. I hope over the course of the season everything balances up and we can focus and talk about the things on the pitch.”

Ashton was asked by interviewer and Blues legend Matt Holland whether he’d heard from Webb, the chief refereeing officer for the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).

“Disappointingly, no,” he said. “But I’m about to be in touch with him. Howard’s going to see my number flashing up on his phone a helluva lot more. I think Kieran’s really eloquently put his position very well there.

“When we came into the division, I was non-plussed because I hadn’t used it before. Last time I was in the Premier League, it didn’t exist.

“The Premier League presented to me in the summer on why we should support and keep VAR and we supported that position.

“I think there are two aspects for me. From what I’ve seen as a fan, it certainly doesn’t add to the entertainment value, it detracts from the entertainment value. The entertainment value in the EFL without VAR was far better.

“And from a decision perspective, I have concerns. I think it’s probably best that I voice those strongly with Howard but I will defend this club with the last breath I have. We will not go quietly into the night.

“Some of the things I’ve seen, I don’t like. I see how hard this man [McKenna] works every single day of the week and Howard’s going to see my number flashing up a helluva lot more.”

Photo: TownTV

itfc64 added 21:10 - Oct 31 Get over it, it will not change, who cares, lets just enjoy the ride and things will be on the up
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Vancouver_Blue added 21:14 - Oct 31 VAR definitely hasn't gone our way so far. I'm not a fan, and would prefer to see it gone
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Westy added 21:31 - Oct 31 I don't like VAR. Goal technology is good - provided the technology is working correctly, it is instant and indisputable. VAR, on the other hand, is still very subjective and different VAR officials may decide differently. Inertia, balance, strength etc all play a part and it seems to me that players who are physically stronger are being increasingly penalised for winning the ball or fending off a player by legitimately using that strength within the laws of the game which is a contact sport.

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Carberry added 21:35 - Oct 31 So why did you vote in favour of it at the EPL last meeting?
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Len_Brennan added 21:46 - Oct 31 I'd imagine that these are deliberate & strategic quotes from Ashton & McKenna; just letting the powers that be know that we are not going to be quietly accepting of debatable decisions & interventions going against us all the time. Perhaps the refs & the VAR officals will be a little slower to make a 50:50 call against us next time, the way they might be with Pep or some other established PL manager that would call them out.

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Suffolkboy added 21:51 - Oct 31 I’d much prefer to allow ‘relative imperfections’ on the pitch which reflect life at large,than this seemingly constant toing and froing between sets of Officials each wanting to have their views adhered to ! It is far too often a subjective difference between the man on the field and those away from the action! Many decisions are difficult to accept,even on later review . The point made about physicality is WELL made ,and appears often to bias decision making . Come on Howard Webb ,stop playing politics and face the music,accepting ‘perfection’ is a ‘dream’ ,sometimes a difficult ‘nightmare’ — and it’s spoiling the live experience and the TV watch too. COYB

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Rimsy added 22:10 - Oct 31 All Var does is take the opinion of the ref on the pitch, and replace it with an opinion of a ref in the studio. It's still opinions so you're always going to get differing views. I can't see how that improves anything. As mentioned before, goal line technology gives a definitive yes or no without argument.
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muccletonjoe added 22:16 - Oct 31 It's like the emporers clothes No one wants to say the premier league is far from one of the best leagues in the world and stinks of corruption. But those things are ultimately confirmed by playing in it.
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Marshalls_Mullet added 23:54 - Oct 31 Webb isnt gonna be worried about a call from Ashton. Ashton also voted VAR in.
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Jugsy added 00:13 - Nov 1 Those commenting on Ashton voting for VAR are missing his point. He’s implying that clubs were told it would be employed to a greater benefit to entertainment and accuracy, and it’s not meeting that objective.
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armchaircritic59 added 00:53 - Nov 1 I was a fan of VAR when it first came in, still believe it has a part to play, but I'm not quite so enthusiastic as I once was. I don't see why they can't put a time limit on decisions made solely by VAR, and also those made by the referee when referred to the pitch side monitor by the VAR officials, it would be easy enough to implement. 60 seconds and if the VAR officials haven't reached a decision, the referee's onfield decision stands, for good or bad, same if a referee gets called to the monitor during those 60 seconds, he gets no more than 60 seconds to look. It would stop the interminable 3/4 minute waits while someone debates something that comes down to the size of a gnats whisker!

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victorysquad added 05:08 - Nov 1 VAR is supposed to make it fairer but it doesn't. It seems to make it worse as there is a lot more time for human's to make a decision. This time is where the bias kicks in, whereas without this time, referees were forced to make on the spot decisions. There was still bias of course, but less time to think about it. So it seems to offer zero value. Goal line technology makes sense, and automated offsides (once working well) would make sense too.

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chepstowblue added 05:58 - Nov 1 Jack Clarke's was never a penalty. The ref made an horrendous on pitch decision, that for the sanity and integrity of the sport had to be overturned. However, last week's penalty against Harry Clarke was a shocker. There was slight interference outside of the box which I'd have accepted. But inside the box, Lewis Potter simply put all of his body weight onto Clarke and fell into him. David Coote's competence has always been in question. This left me in no doubt that he's a moron.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:28 - Nov 1 I find this constant checking as to whether a player's big toe was offside totally ridiculous. If the onfield linesmen cannot CLEARLY see "offside" then play should go on. Why couldn't we change the law so that "offside" only applies if one player is completely in front of another - i.e. daylight between the two. That would make the linesman's decision easier and VAR wouldn't be needed. Mistakes would still happen, hopefully not often, and as many have pointed out, there is still plenty of dispute about the validity of decisions even with VAR.

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grow_our_own added 09:31 - Nov 1 What happened to the semi-automated offside we were promised? < 30 seconds in all cases we were told. Was used in the Euros in the summer, worked fine. Of the VAR decisions that have gone against us this season: - foul on Jack Clarke vs Everton was a clear pen. VAR should have overturned - less so the one on Chaplin at Man City, but not overturnable IMO. - I was initially as livid as everyone else at the Clarke pen vs Brentford, but technically, it was, because he failed to let go once in the box. More aggrieved at the Phillips "foul" (cleanly won the ball) that immediately led to it. But VAR can't adjudicate free-kicks. - Harry Clarke sending off. Angle ball moved suggests Clarke won the ball. Or at least significantly enough for it not to be a yellow. Again decision is exempt from VAR. I think Lewis Smith had an absolute shocker on Sat. Worst refereeing display I've seen for a long time. Poor decisions led to a goal against and us having 10 men. VAR has been against us this season, but not as significantly as some suggest. I'd like to see captain-referral at least trialled (eg onetwo referrals max per half), allowing all incidents to be referred, including the second yellow against Harry Clarke, and the Phillips free-kick immediately before Saturday's pen. Currently VAR cannot review such game-deciding incidents.

3

warwickblue added 09:35 - Nov 1 It used to be (more or less) accepted that bith referees and linesmen would make occasional errors as a result of having to make quick decisions in fast-paced and pressured environments. Given that these decisions were, generally, genuine errors of judgement the old adage that things "evened themselves out over the course of the season" was broadly true. VAR, however, on current evidence, looks as if it can actually be used to influence decisions and outcomes of matches in a way that "Get a pair of glasses Ref!" errors rarely did.

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mathiemagic added 09:40 - Nov 1 My thoughts have been echoed already but there has to be a time limit involved. If you cant spot a clear and obvious error within 60 seconds then the onfield decision stands. It is so simple to implement and fans would accept it and move on.
1

Facefacts added 10:08 - Nov 1 Almost 10 games in and making these comments now.. too late to make any difference now. Needed it before the first game. Didn't make any fuss after the processional defeat at Man City where VAR shouldve given the penalty on Leif. That couldve changed the game. Naive. You can't NOT talk about it, or every decision will continue to be re-referreed against us.
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TonyMowbray added 10:22 - Nov 1 I'm willing to tolerate VAR if it is used fairly and consistently, but I don't think it has in respect to Ipswich so far. The best example I can give is Man City away. Ref says no to two penalty appeals. VAR advises that he reviews City's appeal, but not ours, which was blatantly more obvious.
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FreddySteady added 10:22 - Nov 1 We need to get over this. I really can’t believe there is a conspiracy against the so called smaller clubs. Pretty sure things will generally even themselves out over a season.
1

Lightningboy added 10:40 - Nov 1 If they'd actually asked supporters about keeping Var a few months ago rather than buying votes it would be long gone. Var has absolutely killed watching / enjoying football...but they don't care as long as they can pick and choose what to give or take away. The game is now being curated.
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Cakeman added 11:08 - Nov 1 Sadly VAR is spoiling the game as it’s not being used at it was originally intended. It was for over ruling obvious mistakes but it has now reached the point when nearly each time a goal is scored build up play is analysed as well as fouls and off-sides. This all takes time and spoils the game for supporters. Also I see no need for a pitch side monitor. The referee makes a decision. If VAR deem it to be incorrect then advise the referee to reverse his decision. Just like at cricket matches. The decision is made much quicker that way. Personally I would like to see VAR go. I would be much happier with accepting that some on field errors will be made. I am a believer that generally over the course of a season they level themselves out.

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blues1 added 11:17 - Nov 1 Chepstowblue. Mo, therefore didnfcmakeza,horrendous,decision over the jack Clarke penalty imcident at all . From his,angle it would have looked like a penalty, as it di from my position I'm the north stand. My mate,,sitting further across tho, didnt think it was. Which shows the decision was somewhat subjective. Having seen it again, I can see why itcwas overturned. However I cannot see that ifcwas a clear and obvious error, so var should have gone with the referees decision. Even Michael Oliver said to Mckenna after the game, that it was a debatable decision to overturn his original decision. And this is why Ashton has made his comment. Bcse var is still not being used as the pgmol have said it will be.

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blues1 added 11:19 - Nov 1 Carberry. Je voted for it bcse he's in favour of var. However, was told of the way in which var would operate. And it clearly isn't. Hence his comments
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forrestsfringe added 12:02 - Nov 1 I think the only decision VAR’s got badly wrong for us was not suggesting Sam Barrot check on the challenge on Davis at Man City, that smacked of big club bias I think Davis’s challenge on Doku in the same game was a pen, Jack Clarke had enough doubt around it to merit an overturn, the Harry Clarke one doesn’t sit well with me though, as I doubt it would have been given for Brentford if they were playing a big club.

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