Warnock's Five-Point Plan

Neil Warnock, the legendary 74-year-old boss, has proposed a five-point plan to fix the ongoing VAR controversy in football. He believes that ex-players and managers should be recruited to operate the technology and make decisions on matters such as deliberate fouls and handballs. Additionally, he suggests implementing a 30-second time limit for decisions, avoiding the use of slow-motion replays, changing the offside rule, allowing referees to use common sense, and creating an independent group of ex-players and managers to handle VAR.

The Need for Football Experience

Warnock argues that only individuals who have played or coached professionally can truly understand certain aspects of the game. He claims that referees often struggle with interpreting deliberate or dangerous play, leading to incorrect decisions. By involving ex-players and managers in the VAR process, he believes that a greater level of expertise and understanding can be brought to the table.

Controversial Decisions in Recent Matches

Warnock points to specific incidents in recent matches to highlight the flaws of the current VAR system. He believes that decisions such as Marcus Rashford's red card and penalties given for handballs would not have been made by ex-players or managers. He argues that these decisions are a result of misinterpretation of the new rules and the use of slow-motion replays that make incidents appear worse than they actually are.

Time Limit and Offside Rule Changes

Warnock suggests implementing a time limit of 30 seconds for VAR decisions to be made. He believes that if a fault cannot be identified within that time frame, the referee's original decision should stand. He also advocates for changing the offside rule to require daylight between attacking and defending players, rather than relying on minute differences in positioning.

Lack of Football Experience in Refereeing

Warnock criticizes the lack of encouragement for pro footballers forced to retire early to take up refereeing. He believes that the Premier League and referees' chief Howard Webb should have brought in ex-players who still possess a deep understanding of the game. He argues that this would have improved the overall quality of refereeing and VAR decisions.

Warnock's UK Tour

In addition to his proposals for fixing VAR, Warnock is planning a UK tour to entertain fans and share stories from his remarkable career. The tour, which will take place in May and June, will visit various cities across the country, including York, Nottingham, Ipswich, Wimbledon, Portsmouth, and Cardiff. Fans will have the opportunity to engage in friendly banter with Warnock and hear firsthand accounts of his experiences in football.