Jurgen Klopp Calls For Comprehensive VAR Overhaul In Premier League
Departing Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has expressed his desire to see VAR removed from the Premier League in its current form. Klopp's comments come as Wolves, who have faced several contentious decisions this season, tabled a motion to abolish VAR from the top flight. The club cited negative impacts on in-stadium atmospheres, diminished accountability of match officials, and the technology's role in fueling baseless allegations of corruption from fans.
The role of VAR will be discussed at an annual shareholders' meeting on June 6. However, Wolves' motion is unlikely to secure the 14 votes needed to pass. Liverpool experienced one of the most high-profile VAR errors this season when Darren England mistakenly cleared an incorrect offside call on a Luis Diaz goal against Tottenham.
Liverpool face Wolves in their final game under Klopp on Sunday. The Reds' boss believes that while VAR itself is not the problem, its current implementation is flawed. "I don't think they're voting against VAR; I think they'll vote about how it gets used because that's definitely not right," Klopp said. "In the way they do it, I would vote against it because these people are not able to use it properly. I do not think VAR is the problem but the way we use it is the problem."
Klopp added, "You cannot change the people; it's clear. You need them. So yeah, I would vote for scrapping VAR."
Next up, our final fixture of 2023-24 @UPS | #ad pic.twitter.com/OMveYH4LKt
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 16, 2024
In other news, Liverpool announced that midfielder Thiago Alcantara will leave the club when his contract expires in June. Thiago's four years at Anfield have been marred by injuries, limiting him to just 68 Premier League appearances, including only one match this season.
"Before he even came to Liverpool, I believed that if you really love football, it would make a lot of sense if you watched Thiago Alcantara play," Klopp said of the Spaniard. "Technically, he is so, so good—a talent who could play in any team in the world—and it was a privilege to have him with us."
A goal we'll never forget pic.twitter.com/cm0WH21g2R
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 17, 2024
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