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 error — and so it should stand as the referee saw it on the pitch.
– Include an ex‑professional in every VAR booth. A former player, coach or manager sitting alongside the VAR officials and replay operator would bring understanding of the flow, context and nuance of the game. They won’t replace the laws, but they’ll help interpret incidents in a practical way.
– Visible, stoppable timekeeping. The clock should be displayed and able to be stopped at the referee’s discretion for injuries, VAR checks and blatant time-wasting. Fans in the stadium deserve to know exactly how much time is left instead of relying on vague added-time announcements.
– Make officiating invisible again. Referees should manage the game quietly so the focus remains on goals and performances. Too many amendments to the laws have produced subjective phrases that shift the debate from football to interpretation.
Offside and handball rules have become overcomplicated. What used to be straightforward can now be argued over endlessly. Simplify the laws so decisions are clearer and discussions return to what supporters care about most: the match itself.
These changes wouldn’t remove technology or accountability, but they would restore pace, clarity and fan enjoyment. I discussed these ideas with BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.