Charlton boss Lee Bowyer calls for introduction of VAR to Championship football

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Charlton boss Lee Bowyer has revealed that he’d be in favour of VAR being introduced into the Championship.

Video technology has been used in the Premier League this season, controversially in some cases, but Bowyer feels that the system can only help the officials to get more key decisions correct.

The Addicks boss was asked the question after his side’s defeat to Wigan, a game in which VAR may well have given the South Londoners a penalty when Naby Sarr had his shirt pulled as the ball came over from a corner.

“Why not?” said Bowyer.

“If it’s that important that they get the right decision for the Premier League, then why is it not as important in our division? You’ve got teams that are trying to get into the Premier League. Financially, it would be great for our club to get in there.

“Why should they have a different set of rules to us? Because they have. They have a different set of rules to what we’ve got. Our officials haven’t got the help that the Premier League officials have got. Why should that happen? That’s not right. At the end of the day, everybody should be treated the same. If you’re going to have this VAR then just spread it around so everybody gets it.

“The refs need help. It’s the hardest job, I think, in the world. I would never do it. You can’t win. I think they need all the help they can get.”