Anger as former referees’ boss Keith Hackett says VARs must ‘feel the wrath of fans’… with Yorkshireman, 79, slamming Stuart Attwell over Fulham vs Wolves controversy

Keith Hackett was accused of inviting abuse on his fellow match officials when the former boss of the refereeing body PGMOL suggested VARs should be in stadiums ‘to take the wrath of the fans’.

Hackett’s comments sparked anger and surprise among officiating circles, not least because he is a former referee. 

The 79-year-old Yorkshireman took aim at VAR Stuart Attwell for the controversies in Wolves’ 3-2 loss to Fulham as he said on talkSPORT: ‘We’ve got to recognise that Stuart Attwell – and I’m sorry to name him – is not a good VAR. I doubt his capability as a referee. But let’s move on and say if he’s not a good VAR, don’t appoint him to that role.’

Turning his attention to the PGMOL’s plush new VAR hub at Stockley Park, Hackett added: ‘It’s no good spending a million quid on the wallpaper and making things comfortable. I think we need to get VAR operators at the ground so that they can take the wrath of the fans when they’re walking out of the stadium at the end of the game when it’s gone ape.’

Hackett’s suggestion comes after Mail Sport launched our campaign calling for less abuse aimed at referees, feeling it trickles down from the Premier League to the grassroots level where officials lack protection.

Hackett took aim at VAR Stuart Attwell for the controversies in Wolves’ 3-2 loss to Fulham

Mail Sport has launched a campaign to stop the abuse of referees to help boost the game

The registered charity Ref Support UK have reacted angrily to the idea that VARs deserve to feel the ‘wrath’ from fans with chief executive Martin Cassidy saying: ‘I have held the opinion for some time – that he is one of the main instigators for encouraging the abuse of match officials at PGMOL level and these comments further compound that opinion.

‘His “referees’ man” persona is a sham and is used by fans to further perpetuate referee abuse. He should hang his head in shame as he continues his agenda against the PGMOL for letting him go as their “boss” when he wanted to stay.’

Hackett disputed the accusations against him and, when contacted for a response, told Mail Sport: ‘I am not promoting the idea of fans having a go when poor decisions are made. I am making the point that the VAR is in a sanitised and detached building miles away from the game.’ 

On his own exit from the PGMOL, he added: ‘Ref Support UK are incorrect in their observation about me personally. I retired from the PGMOL having reached retirement age. European age legislation was not in operation at that time. Mike Riley was appointed one year before I left the PGMOL in order to have a measured handover. I accepted a role with the Premier League and travelled many parts of the world delivering the Premier Skills Refereeing Project.’

The PGMOL’s current boss Howard Webb wants to implement VAR specialists to lessen the burden on officials who have to double up on weekends. This Saturday, Attwell will work as VAR for Burnley versus Sheffield United before refereeing Liverpool against Fulham on Sunday.