Liverpool manager Arne Slot revealed his dislike for in-stadium VAR announcements, stating the development will increase pressure on referees.
The update is being tried out by the English Football League during the League Cup semi-finals.
The referees are to announce their final decision following a visit to the VAR pitchside monitor or at the “conclusion of factual matters such as accidental handball by a goalscorer or offside judgements” and only the final decision is announced to supporters.
Last year, the Premier League said the supporter experience of video technology was “nowhere near good enough” and the organisation’s chief football officer Tony Scholes said that the league’s “intention” was that referees would announce the outcome of VAR reviews from the start of the next campaign.
However, Slot – whose Liverpool side will attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg when they host Tottenham at Anfield on Thursday – echoed his sentiments about the initiative.
“I wonder if it is a good thing for the referee because he’s already under a lot of pressure in every game from the home fans,” the Reds gaffer said at his pre-match press conference.
“And I think him explaining if it’s against the home team would even add more pressure in the next and the next and the next decision he has to make.
“But they always tell me they are very well trained for this which I am certainly not because if I need to blow my whistle during a training session then I’m always like ‘OK, he’s a bit frustrated, let’s give him the free kick for the next time’, so I would probably not be a good referee.”
The winner of the two-legged tie between Liverpool and Tottenham will face either Newcastle in the League Cup final at Wembley in March.
