Graham Potter fears football will be refereed by drones as VAR argument rages

Graham Potter fears football will one day be refereed by drones the way VAR is going.

Following yet another week of controversy and a flurry of ‘armpit’ offsides, Brighton boss Potter yesterday became the sport’s voice of reason.

A total of five top-flight goals were ruled out for offside at the weekend by VAR - all by the tightest of margins.

Brighton suffered one of those on Saturday when Dan Burn’s header was chalked off in their 2-0 win over Bournemouth .

And boss Potter says VAR will never be right until everyone in the game accepts that it’s actually okay to get decisions wrong.

Graham Potter says football should accept refereeing mistakes as part of the game (AFP via Getty Images)

“Until we change that, then things are only going to go to the next stage - and that’s getting rid of people altogether,” he said.

“That’s the only way you can guarantee we get decisions right.

“So, we’ll do away with referees and linesmen, put drones up, use computers and artificial intelligence and I’m sure we’ll get all the decisions correct. But I don’t think anybody will like football any more.”

He believes the Premier League would be far better off if there was no VAR and people simply accepted that mistakes are part of the game.

“It’s not the laws or the technology that has to change, it's the culture,” he said.

Brighton had a goal chalked off for offside during their 2-0 win over Bournemouth (AFP via Getty Images)

“I want to sort of support it, because it’s here. But I think we’re looking at the problem in the wrong way.

“Because whilst the culture is ‘if we lose and there’s a mistake then it’s the referee or linesman’s fault’ then of course we’re always looking for something to make that decision better.

“But we don’t ever accept the fact that the referee can make a mistake. Okay, maybe we lose and that’s unfair - but you have to deal with it because that’s life.

“The Premier League has been sold around the world based on emotion and now we’re just obsessed with getting decisions right.

“Before this it was the referee or linesman to blame for losing, now it’s VAR.

Dan Burn has had two goals ruled out by VAR this season (AFP via Getty Images)

“We’re just fuelling the same debate.”

Potter has been on the both the right and wrong end of VAR decisions this season.

Burn has actually had two goals disallowed, while a hairline offside decision against Harry Kane went the Seagulls’ way during a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham .

But the Brighton boss is uncomfortable with the way things are heading.

“This is all about the culture of wanting to blame somebody,” said.

Harry Kane had a goal disallowed against Brighton which Potter believes should have stood (WILL OLIVER/EPA-EFE/REX)

“But football is a game of mistakes, it’s played by human beings and they are going to get things wrong.

“If you accept that then I’m not sure there’s a real need for technology.

“I’ve seen decisions where a player is offside by a millimetre, but it’s still a goal in my head, as a football person.

“Harry Kane’s goal against us is a goal as far as I’m concerned. And I accept the fact that it’s too quick for the referee or the linesman to get, but I’m alright with that. And I think the people in the stands are alright with that.

“If you say that’s not a goal, the people in that stadium say ‘hang on a minute, he’s literally an eighth of a millimetre off, he’s a fingernail off”.

“Is that right, is that good for the game?

“As I say, the next stage is getting rid of people and putting up drones instead – and wouldn’t everything be great then? Sorry, I don’t think so.”