Scott Parker insists ‘football is better without VAR’ after Burnley’s controversial loss to Brentford

Scott Parker has asserted that “football is better without VAR”, following two contentious decisions that contributed to his side’s dramatic 4-3 home defeat by Brentford.

The manager’s relegation-battling Clarets had launched a thrilling fightback from three goals down on Saturday.

After clawing their way back to level the score at 3-3, Zian Flemming’s bundled effort was ruled out for a tight offside. Later, after Brentford had regained the lead through Mikkel Damsgaard in stoppage time, Ashley Barnes then had a goal chalked off for accidental handball.

Parker, whose team faces Everton on Tuesday night, stated: “I think football is better without VAR and that is just my view. It removed the raw emotions of the game and the celebrations.”

He further elaborated on his frustration, adding: “I think the facts are the facts, however long it takes you just have to get the facts right with VAR. It suggests to me that we are not sure and we are just passing it on to another guy who makes the decision.”

Parker’s complaints come just days after football’s lawmakers confirmed more power is set to be given to VAR ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

Using VAR to check corners will be an option for competitions from this summer, while the core VAR protocol has now been widened to cover second yellow cards and cards awarded to the wrong team.

Meanwhile, despite being second from bottom, eight points from safety with 10 games remaining and only one win in their last 19 league games, Parker insists spirits remain high within his squad.

“The weekend’s game was a mix between a real poor part in the start and a second half which was a really impressive, incredible performance,” he said.

“We fell short on a couple of decisions. Generally it is mixed. The way the game ended we can take great positives from. The lads are in a good place.”