Jay Bothroyd is praised for calling out VAR, Howard Webb and Dermot Gallagher on this week’s edition of Ref Watch on Sky Sports.
They had been looking at Erling Haaland’s goal in this weekend’s Manchester derby, with the Premier League refereeing body Pro Ref admitting an “error of judgement” in awarding the winner.
The Premier League Match Centre said that VAR had checked the referee’s call of no goal for offside – and determined that Haaland was in an onside position and recommended that the goal was awarded. The VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn’t play the ball.
Jay said: “Listen, first of all, I need to say this, right? Howard, bring the camera with me. Howard Webb, come on this show when it’s live and speak to us cuz you need to explain to me so I can put you I can put you in the spotlight and ask you questions. I need to know that.
“No, you need to come and speak to me live on this show about this incident cuz I need to know this cuz we keeping hearing all these things and I don’t understand them.
“There’s laws there and they’re not being followed. The understanding, the interpretation even yesterday, you know, they’re saying sorry then they’re trying to explain it. They’re just digging themselves a bigger hole. I don’t understand this.
“This is the easiest decision. I think I put my money on it right now and say this is the easiest decision I’m going to see all year and this is four games in.”
Jay Bothroyd is an absolute gem of a pundit. The way he calls out Howard Webb is phenomenal. “Put the camera on me.” 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/SN2bseu9FW
— Jamie Ward (@jamie_ward84) September 14, 2026
Pro Ref admit “error of judgement” in awarding Haaland’s winner in Manchester derby
Asked about what’s the solution, Jay says ex-players.
Dermot said: “It may help but it may not help. Um we watched uh an incident earlier when we were going through things. You thought penalty, an ex player in commentary thinks not.
“So you’re at the mercy of whoever’s in that VAR because you would say yes, he would say no. So you’ve still got the same problem. Anything with an element of subjectivity will lead to diverse decision- making.
“You also need to remember that VAR is a great concept when it works for you. It’s not a great concept when it works against you. That’s that’s the nature of the beast, but it’s not perfect and it never will be because it’s controlled by human beings.”
Jay: “But like that one there, Derm, you’re absolutely right. But the one we looked at off air was a challenge. that is, you know, that’s that is, you know, you’re making that’s an opinion, right?
“So the ex player that we were talking about that’s covering that game, he made an opinion, I made an opinion and we see things differently. This is not that. This everyone can see, right? And that’s and that’s what I’m trying to say.
“So like I know for sure I know for absolute certain any player that’s played at any level that is looking at that today or when the game was happening will be saying Enzo Fernandez is definitely interfering with play. There is no question and that’s the thing.
“So I’m saying and you know what everyone I’ve spoken to as well. They don’t even have to be footballers. They they’ve said that’s interfering with play as well. But so why are they not looking at that?”
Dermot: “We’re not disagreeing with that, Jay. Well, I’m not disagreeing with that. I agree with it. Everybody’s answering.
“The question was, will putting an ex-Pro in the VAR be beneficial. And I’ve said it may well be, but it’s not going to be perfect.
“And I quoted the incident we saw earlier. And the reason I quoted it is because you said to me one thing, and the commentator was an ex player said the opposite.”
Jay: “It’s a different scenario.”
Dermot: “I get that. But what I’m saying, you can’t go into the V office and go, we’re only going to deal with interfering with play on off site. It’s all or nothing. He’s got to look at the red card.
Jay: “Of course. Of course. But you’re giving you’re getting real insight from players that have played the game. Whereas you’re asking an opinion of someone that’s never played the game and you’re asking them to say that looks like it could have interfered, that that looks like it’s all right because he hasn’t touched the ball.
“But if they haven’t played and they have no understanding of the game, being involved in a football match, how can they make that decision?
“Whereas if you have footballers at any level, I’m going to say as well, that are there, they have insight into how the game is played. They understand the moments, because most of players that have played the game have been in that situation.
“So as much as sometimes the players might disagree, more often than not them decisions will be correct. Unless it’s a challenge.”
Dermot: “More often than not, the VAR gives decisions that are correct.”
Jay: “Why have we got this show then? Why have we got this show? If that’s the case, if that was the case, we wouldn’t even have this show.”
As mentioned, Jay Bothroyd has been praised for calling out VAR, Howard Webb and Dermot Gallagher live on Ref Watch…
@deanm1982: I said at the start of the season that Jay Bothroyd was a breath of fresh air. He speaks for all of us. @RefereeHalsey @no1lino @HACKETTREF
@LeeDeacy90: Yeah that’s defo the last time Jay does ref watch 😂😂😂
@xEllie24_: He wont be on there next year cos he speaks absolute facts every week and they wont like that!!
@Jimbob210712: Absolutely Spot on Jay……. Sorry is just not good enough! It ain’t…. We pay good money to watch this week in week out and we are still getting Crap from the @prorefofficial or @PGMOL_FA whatever they are called now… It’s time someone stood up to them! accountability! #MUFC
@colinmufc2: “They lost focus”. Could you imagine using that as an excuse in any other job where there can be massive consequences due to the decisions you make? VAR has the ability to impact the entire careers or players and managers. They have one job, to make the right decision ffs
@trevor_collins3: I’m sorry “they’ve lost focus”. Jesus Christ they get to watch it back as many times as they want. Sort the game out, get rid of idiots like this, don’t give them air time. I saw this ‘ref’ years ago at a sportsman’s evening and I’ve never heard so much self inflated crap
@Elpresidente141: Love it. Felt like a WWE Raw promo with Jay calling Webb out live for a title shot. In all seriousness though, finally some real challenge on Sky for the ineptitude we are seeing week in week out. Sky/TNT normally provide a shield for Pro Ref/PGMOL.
@Kirkham81: He’s right & they shouldn’t get anything wrong but if it was a team outside of their favourites we know it would be forgotten about already & the apology would arrive by Wednesday not within a few hours
@Leon88ElB: Absolutely brilliant Mr Bothroyd 👏👏 Calling the nonsense out. Im sure Sky wont welcome him back now. Not like Sky to have someone talking sense.
@LDA74: Nailed it, Dermot squirming cos he’s grifting a job and can’t face the facts that everyone has woken up to. Sack VAR off, the Championship is now the best league out there.
@AndrewHall24263: Telling what every football thinks of the state of our officials, whether with or without VAR all of them are poor, both @premierleague @EFL need to sort something NOW, the @PGMOL_FA will only protect their members, and that’s wrong!!
You must be logged in to post a comment Login