GARY LINEKER boldly predicted that his radical plan to fix VAR will eventually be adopted by PGMOL.
Lineker was discussing a controversial penalty call from Chelsea’s 3-0 win at West Ham with Danny Murphy and Ashley Williams on Match of the Day.
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The Hammers felt cheated when referee Samuel Barrott failed to award the home side a penalty in the 28th minute.
Wesley Fofana grabbed hold of Crysencio Summerville‘s arm inside the 18-yard box just before the half-hour mark when the score 2-0.
Following a short review, the VAR advised Barrott to stick with his original decision as Fofana’s hold had only been ‘fleeting’.
But Lineker, 63, believes he has the solution to fix the video assistant referee system.
Earlier this year, the former England striker said that an appeal system would help “add to the drama” in football.
And he double downed on his claim this weekend.
He believes that there should be a limited amount of times where VAR can intervene, like challenging calls in tennis.
He said on MOTD on Saturday night: “Until there is an appeal system with VAR it will always be a problem.”
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This prompted Murphy to jokingly reply: “That is one of your only good ideas.”
Lineker then jested: “I know. And it will come. I will come.”
Both Murphy and Williams believed West Ham were denied a blatant penalty.
Fofana was was later booked for another challenge on Summerville before he was replaced by Axel Disasi in the 57th minute.
Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast in May, Lineker explained: “The only way out of this mess, and I think they should keep offside and goal-line technology.
“But I think you either scrap the rest of it or, more realistically, you take it to an appeal system.
“You limit the amount of times that VAR can interfere. It can not intervene unless someone appeals.
“It has to be the captain and they have got to tell you what they are appealing for.
“It does not mean there is a goal and you have got to find some kind of foul somewhere.
“They have to stipulate what the foul is, the captain does it, and if it is a foul then it is a foul, there is no bar.
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“It is the decision that the VAR and the referee come to.
“Maybe one appeal a half, but it stops VAR coming into every possible corner that comes in.”
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FAST forward 12 months to May 18, 2025.
After 89 minutes at Molineux, Wolves, needing to win their last game of the season to stay up, are beating Manchester United, who require a point for Champions League football.
A ball over the top sends Rasmus Hojlund racing away. The flag stays down. Hojlund scores. Wolves are relegated.
And on the way home, the dejected Wolves fans see the still image on their phones.
Hojlund was 2ft offside. No question. A shocker.
It means at least a year in the Championship, £100million income drop, a firesale of the squad. While United bank an extra £50m.
But it’s OK. Every one of those fans, plus smiling boss Gary O’Neil and the Wolves board, will line up to say: “No worries. It’s what we voted for. Rough with the smooth.”
Yes. And I’ve got a bridge to Ireland to sell you.
