England’s top ref: We must keep VAR

MICHAEL OLIVER, one of the top referees in European football, has launched a passionate defence of VAR, claiming fans would be clamouring for its return if the system was scrapped. In an exclusive interview with The Mail on Sunday, Oliver insists VAR has helped the game and he defies anyone to come up with anything better.

‘You are getting more fair decisions,’ says Oliver. ‘There is all the clamour about it changing the game. As soon as you moved it away, people would want it back.’

Oliver insists tweaks to the handball laws show that the Premier League and referees are listening to critics. And he also swears by the offside laws which have enraged fans with goals being ruled out by the finest margins.

‘I don’t know what the alternative is,’ says Oliver.