'VAR in the Premier League is not fit for purpose'published at 12:30 GMT 3 March
Natalie Bromley
Fan writer

The current handball rule is not fit for purpose. The current offside rule is not fit for purpose. The use of VAR in the Premier League is not fit for purpose.
How do we, as fans, sit here each week and justify paying our season ticket prices to watch what the Premier League has become.
How do we justify paying over £70 per month in expensive subscriptions to watch live Premier League games?
The heart and soul of the game have been ripped out, and I just don't know what we are doing any more.
Burnley so very nearly pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in Premier League history. Except they didn't.
Because Jaidon Anthony's shirt sleeve was deemed to be offside by the width of his shoulder. Which absolutely no fan wants. Ever.
And it becomes even more laughable when you realise that if Anthony scores that same goal from that part of his body in an onside position, VAR will find a way to rule it out for handball.
Because that's what VAR does; finds the most minute way to rule out goals and ruin the game. After they have taken five minutes to deliberate, of course. Does anyone actually bother claiming "clear and obvious error" anymore?
Disallowing Ashley Barnes' last-gasp equaliser was even more galling, because an "accidental handball" happened in the build-up to the goal.
On top of that, the referee didn't even look at the monitor. He declared his "final assessment" after "review", but he didn't actually review it. He was told by Stockley Park what to do, making an absolute mockery of the on-field referee's role.
I can't keep doing this every week. I am falling out of love with the game. And if the Premier League is not careful, many more fans may just follow.
In the meantime, well done Burnley on that second-half display. Play like that for the rest of the season, and we may just go into our Championship campaign with a bit of feel-good back.
Find more from Natalie Bromley at No Nay Never podcast, external























