Jamie Vardy: ‘Don’t ask me about VAR, I don’t know what it stands for’

Vardy’s seventh England goal was cancelled out by a late penalty from Lorenzo Insigne that was awarded when the on-field referee Deniz Aytekin reviewed his original decision using technology.

Whilst the process was followed correctly it didn’t stop controversy with the new technology set to be used at the World Cup in the summer.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Vardy immediately said “Don’t ask me about VAR. I don’t know what it stands for. I wouldn’t be able to give you an answer if you asked me.”

Critics of VAR have pointed to how supporters are left with no communication as to what is happening, unlike NFL for example where officials walk through the process, and Vardy echoed those concerns.

“It just says VAR’s in use and if you are on the pitch, you are just stood around not knowing what’s going on and the crowd is just sat there waiting. That’s the worst thing about it.” Vardy went on to add.

“I know they use it in other sports where it’s actually up on a big screen so that everyone can see what the video ref is looking at, but, at the minute, we’re all just standing there waiting.”

Vardy also pointed to England’s disadvantage with other leagues having introduced VAR whilst in England it is just in the cup competitions.

He did state that he feels with the right work then it can be successfully implemented.

“We had one in the FA Cup against Fleetwood where Kelechi Iheanacho’s scored, the ref’s gone to VAR, he’s literally not had the chance to celebrate with his team-mates and then at the end of it all it’s just like school kids running around everywhere, ‘yeah, we’ve scored, where is he, let’s go celebrate’. It’s got a lot of work that needs doing to it.

“We’ve had as much instruction as what can be given out, it’s obviously a work in progress in the competitions in England. It’s just one of those things we have to deal with and, hopefully, it will be spot on come the World Cup.

“It’s still down to the referees to try to get to the right decision in the first place. There is pressure on them, too. They don’t want to go to VAR all the time to change the decision they have made, so it’s all about practice.”