Prem referees chiefs advertise hardest job in football as they step up bid to end VAR chaos… with NO experience required
REFS’ chiefs have placed an ADVERT for people to take on football’s toughest job as VARs.
The PGMOL are hunting for brave souls with little or no experience.
And the job ad is asking for people who can: “PROVIDE clear communication under pressure,” and are “capable of SELF-REFLECTION on how they have performed.”
“IDENTIFY when VAR needs to intervene,” and have the “ability to FOCUS and have great communication skills.”
An advert is circulating among around 75 refs at elite level in the men’s and women’s game to recruit new “Specialist VAR” staff.
It comes as VAR is under the biggest scrutiny since launching in 2016.
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Arsenal and Liverpool have both issued strong statements this season, demanding reform.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta branded VAR calls “disgraceful” after Anthony Gordon’s Newcastle winner was allowed to stand last Saturday.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp demanded a replay after Luis Diaz’s goal was wrongly ruled out for offside in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at Tottenham.
And Wolves boss Gary O’Neil accused VAR of huge blunders which have cost his side points.
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PGMOL boss Howard Webb has made a number of apologies — including over the Diaz cock-up.
VAR has also been criticised for lengthy delays, including one of more than SEVEN minutes in Chelsea’s 4-1 win at Tottenham on Monday.
That game stretched to almost 112 minutes and included two sendings off and FIVE disallowed goals.
Insiders at the PGMOL say officials are taking longer to make up their minds on decisions because they are frightened of the public backlash should they make a mistake.
There is also a growing feeling among officials they are overstretched with the expansion of roles now associated with every Prem game.
GIVEN A REF RIDE
This weekend alone four referees are doubling up and working on both Saturday and Sunday in the top flight alone.
Paul Tierney is VAR for Saturday’s lunchtime clash between Wolves and Tottenham before taking charge of Liverpool versus Brentford on Sunday at 2pm.
John Brooks is VAR at Bournemouth’s home game with Newcastle at 5.30pm on Saturday evening from Stockley Park in North-West London and referee at Brighton against Sheffield United the day after.
He will be in partnership over a two-day working weekend with Chris Kavanagh who is in the middle at Bournemouth before acting as VAR while Brooks referees at Brighton less than 24 hours later.
Relative rookie Michael Salisbury, who only joined the Premier League list last year, is VAR for Arsenal vs Burnley then referee for West Ham against Nottingham Forest at 2pm on Sunday.
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The job advert calls for “expressions of interest” from the top level in the men’s and women’s game to take on one of the most pressurised jobs in football.
Pay is not mentioned.
