Coventry City boss Frank Lampard calls for VAR to be introduced in the EFL Championship, something that has long been debated.
Following defeat to Burnley, he was sent off for confronting referee James Bell, then he voiced criticism of official Oliver Langford for not dismissing a player in the defeat to Luton Town. See more on that HERE.
He said to The i Paper regarding VAR: “I respect referees. It’s a really tough job. VAR is very controversial, some people love it, some hate it.
“There is something beautiful about not having to check when you celebrate a goal. But the support system of VAR, if used right, is a great help. The game is too fast and in my opinion too many decisions are being missed.
“We should push for VAR in the Championship. It’s one of the best leagues in the world to watch – it’s absolutely one of the best in the world to be involved in. And the prizes are too great for promotion and relegation.”
🚨 Exclusive Frank Lampard interview 🚨
Reasons for choosing Coventry, the “playoff before the playoffs” on Saturday, why the Championship needs VAR, and why he has faith in the future of English coaches.
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Frank Lampard speaks ahead of his Coventry side’s massive match against Middlesbrough 🆚 pic.twitter.com/vjkBOtsIkN
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He spoke in his press conference, per the club website, being asked him when he took over if the play-offs were a possibility and not ruling it out…
“That has been the ride that we’ve been on. At that point I wasn’t sure and to be sat in 17th and claim we’re going to make the play-offs, I think would’ve been a big stretch and did I believe it, probably no, in terms of I’m experienced enough to know there’s a lot of work to be done and there’s a reason why you’re 17th and you want to move up the table and it was step by step, I think that’s kind of how I put it.
“We’ve made steps and now we’ve given ourselves an opportunity which is great, but clearly the job isn’t done yet.”
Treating this game as a play-off game…
“It is, there’s no point in hiding what’s on the game, it’s very clear, it’s in our hands, but it’s a really tough match.
“We have to focus absolutely on the opponent and what we want to do, as we do every week and keep a pretty clear head going into the game.”
Permutations on the day depending on the result and results elsewhere…
“There will be different permutations on it, on the day and we will have to be aware of that because there’s a lot that can change.”
If Middlesbrough needing to win is a good thing for the way the game plays out…
“I don’t know, this is 90 plus minutes of football and there are plenty of ways to try and win a football match.
“We know Middlesbrough’s style and we know how they generally play. They’re a good team and they have been up and around it all season, but who knows how it will affect them, we have to concentrate on what they are and what we feel they will be.
“The individuals and their team as a collective and their idea, you would think not many things change from what they do a lot, because they’re a good team.
“Michael has been there a while and he’s got a style of how he wants to play and they’ve worked all season and they’ve been up there all season and you expect them to have their way of playing and then we will have to manage the game as it goes on, because of what’s on it, because it is a knockout game in effect.”
Confident if his players can cope with occasion…
“Hopefully because what they’ve shown me since I’ve been here, at the CBS and in other games, there is a way of handling big games and this is the biggest one yet, but that’s a good thing because we’re here and we didn’t know we would be here.
“We’ve got some young players and hopefully the freshness and youth there can keep them quite free going into it and enjoy it as opposed to being overwhelmed by the challenge and that would be my message.”
How are the players bearing after two defeats in the last two games…
“They’re fine and they’ve been very good this week and I think it’s important to say, there are always variables in games like at Plymouth, the details of individual errors, a possible red card that didn’t go our way, those things can happen but you can’t complain too much because they can come along in a season and they’ve come at the business end for us and that in itself is frustrating.
“The Luton game, you go down to ten-men early in the game and put in a fantastic effort and performance and organisation, then a mistake hurts you at the end of the game, but that’s football, so there’s no point hanging on it too much.”
Coming up against Michael Carrick…
“I know Michael really well, I came through at West Ham with him and played against him many times and played with him at England.
“I know him well as a lad, he’s always been one of the very good people in the game, very genuine, very down to earth, good lad and very smart.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him and going up against him.”
The importance of the fans in another sell-out…
“They’ll play a huge part, like they have played in our recent home games, and we’ve played well at home, even against Burnley we played really well and deserved something out of that game.
“We’re very thankful and we don’t take it for granted but we know they will be there and it’s a great inspiration for the lads and for myself and it’s part of the strength of this football club, our fan base home and away and we will want to deliver for them, and I know they’ll be trying to help us.”
Twitter users reacted as Coventry boss Frank Lampard calls for VAR to be introduced in the EFL Championship…
@Buchholz_Dave: Disagree, the var decisions and wait at Molineux and Wembley were dreadful. personally I would rather live in the moment
@realgoodie: If they sorted VAR out so that they weren’t looking for too much precision, particularly on offsides then yes.
@Aaronnn_96: No – The championship would just become the testing ground for new weird rules that the PGMOL are thinking about implementing. Also our referees are that bad I genuinely don’t believe watching things back would make a difference, half the stuff they miss is so blatantly obvious in the first place 😂
@littlewood88: The only way I’d be receptive would require a complete overhaul of VAR. Semi Automated offsides have to be included and a 60 second time limit on all decisions. If you can’t conclude if the decision is correct or not in 60 seconds you have to stick with the onfield call
@BWaddington: I actually do, I would rather just get fair decisions than get fucked over every week. I genuinely would, I just prefer knowing what is fair is fair. Surely it is going to be improved and more streamline soon?
@AJWood_: Yeah agree. We all know that VAR is not used well but for the most part they get the major decisions correct which is its main purpose. I’d rather wait for a decision to made right than accept that’s it’s wrong and impacts the result of a match.
@R3vakVith: Nothing wrong with the concept of VAR especially with the state of officiating in the league we just need to have a different body operating it, make it more streamlined and faster. Look at Rugby, works well. PGMOL run VAR is atrocious.
@leemelvin83: No chance – it’s one of the reasons the championship is still decent, a quick glance at the linesman and you know it’s a goal! None of this waiting about for 5mins drawing lines to find a toenail is off!
@leadballoon74: Offside rule needs changing. Daylight between forward and last player is offside. Or at least just bottom half of body where the propulsion/advantage is coming from. A finger, nose or elbow ahead is not an advantage. Never will be.
@TnsCov: I was all for it and then Wembley happened and that was enough for me I hate it the technology is brilliant the way they use it is wrong and against the spirit of the game it should only be used to correct clear and obvious errors from the on field officials
@Joolshampton: Yes to a point. Each manager should have a challenge like in NFL. If you lose – you lose a sub, if you win – you keep your sub. So VAR is only used sparingly.
@WardySBE: No thanks. I’d rather be able to celebrate goals. VAR has sucked the life out of the premier league
@MegaDinoSir: I know a lot of fans are jaded because of the Wright decision but undoubtedly we’d have secured playoffs already if VAR was in the championship. It is better for competitive integrity. However I think it also creates a worse experience for fans particularly at the grounds.
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