Scott Parker Fulham
Burnley is set to approach the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) for an explanation regarding the controversial disallowance of their last-minute equalizer against Brentford. The Clarets believed they had salvaged a point when Ashley Barnes netted in the 98th minute, only for the goal to be ruled out by VAR for an accidental handball. The decision, which took nearly five minutes, has left Burnley seeking clarity on the ruling.
Scott Parker said: “I think we’re going to [get in touch with the PGMOL]. But I think that’s probably going to end up taking place on probably Wednesday or Thursday. With such a short turnaround, I think it’s certainly something I want to do. I would like to just know exactly what the situation is and just even to get up to speed with the rules, really, on my understanding of how things are. So, I think we will do that later in the week.”
The disallowed goal against Brentford was not the only contentious decision Burnley faced during the match. Earlier, Zian Flemming’s goal, which would have put Burnley 4-3 ahead, was also disallowed due to an offside call against Jaidon Anthony. The decision, based on a marginal offside involving Anthony’s shirt sleeve, took nearly three minutes of deliberation by the officials.
Scott Parker said: “Me, personally, without [VAR]. That’s just my view and that’s always been my view. I remember when it first came in, when I was manager of Fulham, I sensed that. I think I was quoted in saying, however long ago that was, four odd years ago, I was like, you need to just be really, really careful of what a game of football is and the emotion of the game. I sensed it really early on that, you know, just the raw emotion of the game in terms of celebrations at the weekend. And what I mean by that is that for every goal that you score, you celebrate and then it gets pulled back. For every fan that cheers and then gets pulled back, there’s a scar that’s left, which is disappointment. And so that’s the main reason.”
Parker’s comments reflect a broader concern about the impact of VAR on the game. He emphasized how the technology, while aiming for perfection, often detracts from the raw emotion and spontaneity that make football unique. Parker also questioned the methodology behind the offside decision, suggesting that the reliance on technology may not always provide the most accurate results.
Scott Parker said: “Literally, you’re just checking everything. On the offside, dig a little bit deeper. Just because it’s a robot or it’s…how do we know? Do you know what I mean? We’ve been given an offside, which is like…how do we really know? We don’t know where the frame’s been taken from. Some clips you see, it looks like as if one clip is a certain…we just get an image behind it and we all just go: ‘okay, it’s offside’.”
As Burnley prepares for their upcoming match against Everton, the club is eager to gain a better understanding of the rules and the decisions that have affected their recent performances. The ongoing debate over VAR’s role in football continues to be a topic of discussion among managers, players, and fans alike.
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