After more than five decades in football as a player, coach and manager, I still believe it’s the greatest team sport. But the game has changed a lot, and not always for the better. Football belongs to the supporters — they buy tickets, shirts and travel to back their teams — so when I think about improvements, I start with what helps the fans.
My biggest concern is how referees and VAR have come to dominate the spectacle. VAR was introduced to correct clear and obvious mistakes, and used in that way it works. Lately, though, the game is being stopped for ever smaller incidents and supporters aren’t allowed to celebrate until Stockley Park gives the all-clear. That’s not how football should feel.
Television and analysis have brought immense benefits, but they’ve also fuelled an expectation of perfect, forensic officiating. Referees are mic‑ed, televised, and sometimes put on display. The time taken to reach VAR decisions is excessive and, to my mind, an insult to the rhythm of the match.
Here’s what I would change:
- Strict time limits for VAR reviews. Any referral to the VAR team should be resolved within two minutes. If it needs longer, it can’t really be a clear and obvious
