Premier League referees are in “sheer panic” at how the video assistant referee system is being used, says former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton.
The league has brought in VAR this season to decide on goals, penalties, red cards and offside decisions.
But a number of high-profile incidents have been criticised, as has the length of time before a verdict is given.
Sutton said: “I was a fan of VAR but should we take the subjective calls out of it?”
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club, he referred to the guidance being given to referees by Mike Riley, head of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, which manages match officials in English professional football.
“The referees have been told by Mike Riley to not use the [pitchside] monitor because it will slow everything,” Sutton said.
“I was told at the briefing that the referee has to make the final decision, but he is not doing that any more and that’s a massive issue.”
There were a number of controversial VAR judgements over the weekend. Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino had a goal disallowed at Aston Villa for being marginally offside, Watford won a soft penalty against Chelsea and Everton were denied a spot-kick against Tottenham after a lengthy review, even though the ball struck the arm of Spurs’ Dele Alli.
