Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp takes charge of his last game in charge of the Reds on Sunday. Picture: Paul ELLIS, AFP
LIVERPOOL’S outgoing manager Jurgen Klopp said he would vote for VAR to be scrapped in the Premier League, saying the people operating the system are not good enough.
The Premier League will facilitate a discussion on VAR with clubs at next month’s AGM after Wolverhampton Wanderers submitted a resolution, citing the “negative consequences that damage the relationship between fans and football”.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s home game against Wolves, his final game in charge of the Reds, Klopp said it was not VAR to blame but those operating it.
💬❤️ pic.twitter.com/yUIjWggPQR
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 18, 2024
“They are voting against how it’s used, which is definitely not right,” Klopp said.
“In the way they do it, I would vote against it because these people are not able to use it properly.
“I don’t think VAR is the problem, it’s how they use it. You can’t change the people, obviously it’s clear they need them. So yeah, I would vote for scrapping VAR.”
Video assistant referees (VAR) were introduced in 2019 to assist on-field officials with key decisions such as offside and handball, but rather than reduce controversy, it has become an almost weekly talking point and is unpopular with fans.
Klopp said he had sympathy for Wolves.
“They were the most unlucky team with VAR decisions, they were crazy against Wolves,” Klopp said.
“We’ve had a few strange ones, but they are the champions of that.”
It's time for Jürgen Klopp's final 'Inside Training'... 📺
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 18, 2024
Go behind the scenes as the Reds prepare for #LIVWOL 🎥
Liverpool received an apology from the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) earlier this season after a goal was wrongly ruled out for offside at Tottenham Hotspur.
Speaking of his time at Liverpool, Klopp said: “A decade in your life is a massive one, but I will not forget a day in that time because I found the best people I ever met and I did it for the best club I ever imagined.”
Klopp, who joined the club in 2015, will sign off with his 491st game in charge.
It will be an emotional occasion as Liverpool fans say auf wiedersehen to a man who helped transform the club, delivered seven major trophies, and took the port city to his heart.
Klopp announced in January that this would be his final season in charge, saying he had run out of energy, but the reality of his departure is only now beginning to dawn.
“It’s been the most intense week of my life, saying goodbyes to so many people. We don’t have to pretend it’s a normal week,” Klopp said.
“The game (against Wolves), I’m a pragmatic person, this is the final game, then holiday. So it’s business as usual, but while knowing everything will be different.
“Saying goodbye is never nice, saying it without feeling hurt or sad would mean the time together was not great. I had a great time.”
"It’s difficult to say farewell, but let’s remember the good times…" ❤️🥹 pic.twitter.com/Gnlq0MbI2j
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 18, 2024
Klopp said he had no regrets despite twice missing out on Premier League titles by a single point to Manchester City.
“I’m absolutely fine. I know we could have won more, but I can’t change that,” he said. “Missing the title by a point was not a great experience, but it shows you are really good.
“The nearly wins will not be in the history books, but you can’t see it like that.
“Being in the Champions League final three times is an outstanding achievement. I would not be happy if I thought I could have done more, I couldn’t.
“Could someone else have done better? Probably. But I couldn’t. The rest will be judged by the people, and I’m sure most think we were absolutely fine.”
Reuters
Related Topics: