Sean Dyche and Jamie Vardy clash in heated VAR debate | OneFootball

Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy and former Burnley boss Sean Dyche have clashed in a heated debate over VAR's usage in English football...

Although Jamie Vardy and Sean Dyche never worked together at the same club, both have cemented their places as iconic Premier League figures in very different ways.

Jamie Vardy's rise from non-league football to Premier League champion remains one of English football's greatest stories, with the Leicester City legend scoring 145 goals in 342 Premier League appearances while helping the Foxes achieve the unimaginable by winning the title in 2015/16.

Sean Dyche, meanwhile, earned widespread admiration for establishing Burnley as a respected Premier League outfit on one of the division's smallest budgets. His organised, disciplined, and uncompromising style enabled the Clarets to consistently compete with wealthier clubs, even securing European qualification in 2017/18.

Both men have therefore left lasting legacies despite following completely different paths to Premier League success. Currently, neither are working in the English top flight but they are both entitled to opinions about the league, how it's governed, and the decisions made in terms of officiating of the division.

Jamie Vardy and Sean Dyche disagree over the usage of VAR

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One of the aspects of football that has changed since Dyche and Vardy arrived in the Premier League is VAR (video assistant referees). For example, VAR has been controversial in the Premier League since its introduction in 2019 for several reasons.

Many supporters and pundits agree that the technology itself is useful, but its implementation has often been the issue. Others believe that it has ruined the game and slowed things down, with long delays between decisions ruining the aspect of celebrating a goal.

Even with faster semi-automated offside technology, referees explaining decisions, revised handball interpretations, and better referee training since 2019/20, it remains a divisive topic. Vardy and Dyche have been arguing about the usage of VAR recently as well.

Speaking via The Vardy Party podcast, Vardy said: "VAR is ruining the game."

Dyche replied: "I'm slightly different on this. Professionally, it's needed. I've been close to getting the sack because of bad decisions where you might've gone down, getting relegated, and all of that. So, professionally, it is needed.

"Fans, I'm going to go yes and no for this one. For fans, no, it's not needed because it must drive fans mad. The feeling of a stadium, the energy of a stadium, that magical goal only to be written off."

Manish Bhasin added: "But it's worse making a mistake, even using VAR. So, if I gave you the choice, click your fingers and be done with it tomorrow or not?"

The Leicester legend responded: "No, get it f------g gone.

Dyche interjected: "No, I'd keep it. Keep it. Just get better at it.

Vardy said: "Get it gone. The refs and the linesmen have stopped making decisions. I'm answering it, it's s---e.

Burnley's ex-manager replied: "He asked me, he didn't ask you!. It's your show. You can self-answer if you want."

Vardy concluded: "It's f------g s---e."

Why the EFL is right to oppose having VAR so far

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The strongest argument for scrapping VAR in all but perhaps offside decisions is that it has fundamentally changed the matchday experience for match-going fans without eliminating controversy.

Goals can no longer be celebrated with complete certainty, as supporters often spend the next minute or two waiting for a review rather than enjoying the moment. Many fans argue that this has taken away one of football's greatest emotions.

Subjective decisions involving penalties, handballs, and red cards also continue to divide opinion despite the technology, meaning debates over officiating have not disappeared. By contrast, the EFL has largely preserved the traditional flow of the game by not introducing VAR.