Klopp Outlines His Position on VAR as Crucial Premier League Vote Looms

Jurgen Klopp has expressed his opposition to the current implementation of video assistant referees (VAR) in the Premier League, citing the poor performance of the officials managing the system.

Throughout the 2023/24 season, VAR has faced relentless criticism due to several high-profile mistakes. A particularly glaring error occurred during Liverpool’s match against Tottenham Hotspur in September, where a legitimate goal by Luis Diaz was incorrectly disallowed, contributing to a 2-1 defeat for the Reds.

Premier League clubs are set to vote on whether to continue using VAR in the upcoming 2024/25 season at an annual general meeting scheduled for June.

As Klopp prepares for his final game in charge of Liverpool, he voiced his concerns about VAR: “I don’t think Liverpool will vote against VAR itself, but rather against its current usage, which is clearly flawed. The way it’s being handled, I would vote against it, because the officials are not competent in its application. The problem isn’t VAR, but the way it is used. Given that the officials can’t be changed, I would advocate for scrapping VAR altogether.”

Following the controversial defeat to Spurs earlier in the season, Klopp had called for the match to be replayed and Liverpool demanded a thorough and transparent review of the incident.

Klopp will lead Liverpool out for his final game at Anfield on Sunday as they face Wolves on the last day of the season. Despite falling short of a second Premier League title, Klopp secured the Carabao Cup earlier in the campaign. His tenure at Liverpool has been marked by significant successes, including Champions League and FA Cup victories.

Currently, Liverpool sit third in the league table, nine points behind leaders Manchester City and 11 points ahead of fourth-placed Aston Villa.