Jeff Stelling claims EFL clubs risk going bust when explaining why no one wants VAR introduced after some controversy at the weekend.
The former Sky Sports Soccer Saturday presenter got into a debate with Ally McCoist, Jim White following comments from Martin Keown, who was in favour of VAR being in the Football League.
Simon Jordan has given his take on it, also responding to Jeff Stelling’s rant on whether VAR is needed in the EFL.
Martin Keown said: I think there’s a strong argument to bring VAR in when you consider that this is the sixth biggest league in European football and the revenues involved and show it impacts one wrong decision massively impacts if there’s a tight if you know it’s very difficult to get out of that division isn’t it? We all talk about the last game and what it’s worth the money is there is VAR in the actual playoff final. I do think now it’s time to bring it into the championship. The clubs though are voting against it, Jim, this is the this is the problem getting everybody to believe in the same way. Some of the grounds maybe not set up for the Premier League or technology that you need. Uh but I think now they really look should be looking strongly at this and bringing it up to speed particularly with the the attendances, the money’s involved. I can’t believe it hasn’t come in yet.
Jeff Stelling said: Martin lives on on planet, doesn’t he? He’s so out of touch with what everybody else feels. Nobody, virtually no, I would say 90% of EFL fans do not want VAR anywhere near their game. And Martin, as Simon pointed out yesterday, it’s not just the Championship we’re talking about. There are 72 EFL clubs. If you bring it into the Championship, you bring it into League One, you bring it to League Two, and what do you do? Half of those clubs go bust because they have not got the money or the desire to have VAR. Now this is all brought about by the West Bromwich Albion goal which was clearly you know the boy used his elbow to push it in. So it’s a mistake by the officials that won’t happen often this season and the benefits for me for not having VAR are far outweigh far away the occasional mistake.
Ally McCoist: Jeff, Martin said it himself, the clubs don’t want it. Let’s give you some you don’t want. I mean. No way. I mean I think there might be a clamor of the majority. It’ be interesting. I think if you put for a vote with football fans, they would there would be a a greater percentage would want rid of it and keep it.
Jeff Stelling: There is I will there is a a horrible rumour suggestion around that within two years that the EFL will have VAR, certainly the Championship, I think that will be an absolute calamity
Ally McCoist: Well, of course it will. Of course it will, because the clubs don’t want it and the fans don’t want it, Jeff. So you’re talking about arrogance and pigheadediness. There it is in bundles. Why would you why would you give somebody something they don’t want? I mean, I get it if it’s to the benefit of, you know, you know, whether it’s an illness or I get all that, but if you’re a football fan or a football club and you don’t want something, you don’t think it’s going to benefit you or your league or your opposition, why would you give them it?
Jeff Stelling: Yeah. Martin was speaking really from a position as an ex top division player and obviously a disciple of a Premier League club and with all due respect to Martin, you know, oh, I love dearly, he doesn’t venture down at the Championship very often, I don’t think, or the EFL, and that’s why he has that misguided view that VAR should be introduced into the EFL.
Ally McCoist: Listeners messaging in there’s a lot of them say it’s an endearing fact why they enjoy the championship in the lower divisions and by the way I’ve got to say to you I go to as as as many games as possible probably a lot more than most Jeff, I don’t there’s any doubt about that, and I go to a lot of junior football because my boy plays junior football and there’s something refreshing about it you know referees making honest mistakes the same as the players and the coaches make mistakes, linesman been a bit slower with flagging getting it right getting it wrong and there’s something actually VAR has made that side of it actually refreshing
Jeff Stelling: Yeah you ask the supporters of the sides that got relegated ask West Ham fans you know the only good thing about them getting relegated last seasons they do not have to suffer VAR
Jim White: We heard you two talking about VAR not being in the Championship Jeff. Thank goodness that hand ball goal at the weekend and our own Martin Keown saying it’s time to bring technology into the Championship. And of course you can imagine how well that’s gone down with some uh of the fans of championship clubs, he’s been called lazy by Adrien Durham on social media this morning, has Martin, and I think you guys say he’s he’s out of touch with the view
Jeff: Out of touch? He lives on planet…
Ally: I don’t necessarily think he’s lazy. I just think he’s wrong.
Jim: But the thing is, how can you be comfortable with a clear handball goal like that being allowed to stand?
Jeff: It’s one one occasion. One occasion every fan in the EFL will tell you they prefer it without V. and the fans from clubs who’ve been relegated. The only consolation for them is no VAR. We can live with mistakes. You you get the texts in here can live with honest mistakes. It might hurt West Brom fans right now. but even West Brom fans, they would not want VAR. And it’s just not practical either, Jim, because there are 72 clubs in the EFL. It costs a fortune to run VAR. Who’s going to pay for it? Not the clubs.
Ally: I think it’s relatively straightforward. is relatively straightforward. The clubs don’t want it. The fans don’t want it. Why give them it?
Jim: So, I have a question for you both then. Why did they use it in the playoff final?
Jeff: Because the playoff final, well because, during the course, I don’t think they should, I don’t think they should…
Jim: But they do because of the importance of the game and what’s riding on it.
Jeff: Yeah. A lot of grounds that the games in the EFL cannot cater for VAR. Well, Wembley can of course, but if you go to, I don’t know, Stockport or whatever, they can’t cater.
Jim: So, you two are happy to see a team promoted to the Premier League in a playoff final with an a Championship playoff final with no VAR, scoring a winning goal like that.
Ally: Yes.
Jeff: No. Wouldn’t happen, once in a blue moon. The fact of the matter is by the way VAR as we know there have been so many mistakes so many errors with VAR, without VAR…
Ally: The fact of the matter is getting back to your point of matter is you can’t…
Jim: VAR gets so many more decisions right than wrong.
Ally: But you cannot, VAR for no matter what game it is within the same tournament. You can’t have it for one game and not have it for others. Right. It’s as simple as that.
Jeff: EFL fans. EFL fans. Okay. White and Jordan coming up, swamp them. Swamp them with text telling them that you do not want VAR in the EFL.
Jim: And should they want it in the Championship playoff final because they’ve got it?
Ally: You can’t have it if you’ve not had it in the tournament before.
Jim: But they have it they use it. They shouldn’t they shouldn’t use it in the Championship playoff. If it’s used the most lucrative game in football, if you two had your way in that game with no VAR, a dodgy goal could send the wrong team up?
Ally: That’s fine, Jim. You know what? I don’t think it’s good, but it’s life.
Jim: So, you two are happy to support a flawed system.
Ally: But it’s a flawed system if you have VAR in it, but not have it for the rest of the tournament…
Jeff: And there is not one football fan out there who cares that it’s the most lucrative game in football. All they care…
Jim: Ah they do Jeff, like the money that comes with it
Jeff: No, fans don’t care.
Jim: This is unbelievable
Jeff: Fans want to see their team promoted. That’s all they care about. No fan goes ‘Oh my goodness. Think of the money we can make out of this’. Of course they don’t.
Jim: All right. All right. Here’s the winning goal, winning off his fist. But who cares?
Ally: Football fans generally speaking, Jim will more than accept honest mistakes.
