More managers wade into debate about whether VAR should be introduced in the EFL

More managers wade into the debate about whether VAR should be introduced in the EFL after recent controversies.

Norwich City boss Philippe Clement spoke after his side’s 2-1 win against Southampton, the decisive goal saw the ball hit the hand of Makama on its way in, leading to anger from Southampton players and staff.

“I missed, to be honest, (video assistant refereeing) VAR in the Championship, because we had several situations the last couple of weeks that it could have helped us.

“I hope maybe in the future it can be also installed in the Championship, because it’s a league where there’s a lot of importance when you know everybody wants to go up to the biggest league in the world in the Premier League.

“But I’m a little bit too early in the building, or in the league, to start to discuss about those things. But I’m a fan of VAR because it makes the game more honest.”

Norwich give cheeky response to Southampton saying Canaries’ winner was “clear handball”

The boss told Pink Un: “I missed, to be honest, VAR in the Championship, because we had several situations the last couple of weeks that it could have helped us.

“I hope maybe in the future it can be also installed in the Championship, because it’s a league where there’s a lot of importance.

“But I’m a little bit too early in the building, or in the league, to start to discuss about those things.”

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert, said: “I watched it on a very small screen on the phone, but for me on that replay it seems like quite a clear handball,.

“It’s a big discussion always, the VAR. If I start on this topic, it would be a bit longer of an answer. I’m not a fan of those decisions taking a very long time.

“I think there are some decisions, especially when we’re talking about offside, if that is a quick decision, I think it might help the game actually.

“But I’m also a big fan of the referees taking decisions, and unfortunately that decision didn’t go in our favour. Maybe another game it does.”

Clearly onside pic.twitter.com/4yvvxNmmU5

— Jon (@AnalysisBCFC) December 6, 2025

Bristol City boss Gerhard Struber saw a late equaliser disallowed for offside in their 1-0 defeat by Millwall a few weeks back, resulting heated scenes involving staff and players from both sides.

He told BBC Radio Bristol: “I am not a fan of VAR but this shows us the many signs, evaluations that with VAR the decisions are better and more fair.

“We should do everything for more fairness and the last game showed us this on a really good picture.

“It’s not always so easy to deal and handle the game with [such a] high dynamic, [so] the referees they have everything in a good picture with the pressure with the atmosphere and the high dynamic.

“The Championship is one of the most attractive and interesting and dynamic leagues over the whole world and I would say this would deserve VAR.

“In many other countries, much lower league levels have a VAR and also many other coaches want to have VAR in the near future.”

A few months ago, Valerien Ismael callED for VAR in the Championship after controversy in Blackburn’s defeat to Swansea.

He said to RoversTV: “If you want to release some pressure on the referee, then you need to give them some support.

“They are not able to deal with the situation and make the right decision. One mistake can happen, it happens in football, but now it seems to be a lot.

“Not only with us, you see every weekend some terrible decisions, terrible calls. At some point, when it’s about relegation or promotion, the pressure will be higher.

“We need to rely on clear, professional decision-making and not be influenced by anything. If VAR is the solution, then we need it quickly because a lot of clubs invest a lot of money and want to push for something, to make the Championship more attractive.

“At the minute, it’s not good for the football, those decisions. We are not getting the help we deserve.”

Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, said to Football Insider: “In fairness to the match officials, they haven’t got a prayer of seeing that. The body is covering the handling offence, and it’s a tight call.

“It took me two or three views to determine that it was handball. But there’s no VAR in the Championship. Most people in the Premier League would say it’s ruining the game.

“But this is what VAR was brought in for. The improvement would come if the big screens in stadiums were used, much like in rugby.

“Let’s listen to what the referee and VAR are saying, let’s look at it on the big screen, so whatever is being shown to him, he doesn’t need to go to the screen, and we’re all involved in the process.

“At the moment, there’s a deadly silence in the stadium while we’re waiting.”