Premier League referees are ‘SCARED to make a decision’ because of VAR, claims Mark Clattenburg

Mark Clattenburg believes that the introduction of VAR has left the new generation of Premier League referees afraid to make decisions.

Clattenburg, who spent 13 years as an official in England’s top flight, admits that new technology affected his own performances in China, and he has seen the same ‘fear’ in the Premier League.

While the previous generation was used to making split-second decisions, referees in today’s game can rely on VAR as a safety net if they have any doubts.

When Clattenburg became a professional referee in China, he noticed that his style of running a game had changed significantly due to new technology, causing him to question his own role.

The 47-year-old told Footy Accumulators, William Hill and No Tippy Tappy: The VAR has caused a big problem. It happened to me when I went to China. I started not refereeing. I leaned on the VAR. After the first month, I was going to quit, saying “What am I doing?” I lost my core ability to make a decision. As a referee, you made split-second decisions. I was so comfortable doing it.

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg believes new officials are ‘afraid’ to make calls

Clattenburg feels that the introduction of VAR technology has had a negative effect on referees

‘I might have needed VAR at times, but not as much as they use it now. I was afraid to make a decision. I see these referees now, there is fear and they are afraid to make a decision. When you’re afraid you don’t do one. And then the VAR doesn’t do one either.

VAR drew widespread criticism last week after failing to detect a series of potentially game-changing incidents, including when Tomas Soucek denied Chelsea with an armbar inside the box during West Ham’s 1-1 draw on Saturday.

Despite Chelsea’s protests, there was no penalty for the apparent handball as referee Craig Pawson initially missed it and VAR felt Soucek was using his arm to break his fall rather than intentionally prevent the Blues from scoring. .

Clattenburg said: “It was a brilliant goalkeeper move, but because the ref doesn’t give it, the VAR doesn’t want to give it because it’s breaking his fall.” Then you have compounded a mistake.

If the referee just gave the penalty, because he should have had the courage to blow, the VAR would have supported him.

‘We still have all these problems, the referees don’t make the original decisions that we did in our time. That is the difference.’

The former Premier League referee, who quit his job in Egypt last month following threats from fans, also stressed that England’s most experienced officials have now moved on and that their replacements are no match for Howard Webb. , Phil Dowd and Mark. Halsey.

However, Clattenburg insists he’s not a fan of comparing eras, in the same way that footballers past and present are hard to compare against each other because of the way the game has evolved.

Clattenburg made split-second decisions as a leading civil servant in England and around the world.

Older umpires, including Clattenburg and Howard Webb, have been replaced in recent years.

“I’m not a big fan of comparing because the game has changed a lot,” he said. “I think the referees are fitter now, because maybe the group has gotten younger.

The referees have not gotten worse. The group got old and you lost experience. Webb, me, Dowd, just three in that little quick era with Halsey, we’ve lost at least 80 Premier League games because we all would have refereed at least 20 games.

“Over the years, we’ve lost Atkinson, Moss, Andre Mariner is getting old, Dean, Mason, Friend, Mike Jones. They weren’t getting the best games, but they could do 10, 15 games. You have lost a lot of experience and you are replacing them with a lot of inexperienced referees.

The Premier League issued a statement saying they were “disappointed” by the performance of their referees during matches on Saturday February 11, when Arsenal and Brighton were also on the wrong end of incorrect VAR calls, resulting in a series of appointment changes for upcoming matches. accessories